Multidimensional Poverty among Sudanese Farmers: Evidence from Gezira Scheme, 2023

This paper assesses the spread of poverty among rural farmers of Gezira Scheme. Empirical analysis follows Multidimensional Poverty Index to measure incidence of poverty. The research relies on primary data aided by structured questionnaires compiled by Gezira Scheme Board staff; the Head Office located in Barakat; data provided for year 2023 over 18 sections organized Gezira and Managil Extension Scheme, a total of 378 rural households were randomly selected and interviewed. For the purpose of the research, the Author is focusing on households headed by farmers. The result reveals that, 45.60% of the rural farmers under the study area have been found multidimensional poor with deprivation less than one third of the dimensions of education, health and standard of living. The later, has been considered as the main contributor to deprivation of poverty, its indicator of nonexistence of land ownership showing significant determining of incidence of poverty. Similarly, food shortage is found to be associated with poverty. Therefore, government policies aim to reduce poverty, should take into account rearrangement of the relation between government and farmers regarding land tenure to improve agricultural productivity.