Mertal Area, Southwest of Tawila: Onion Farming Between Rising Costs and Production Hopes

Mertal, located southwest of Tawila in North Darfur, is witnessing growing agricultural activity in onion production despite the economic challenges farmers face during the farming seasons. Speaking to Sudan Sawa Sawa, a farmer, Abubakar, said that onion cultivation has become an important source of income for households, but it requires high costs that may limit its expansion.

According to him, the cost of a single agricultural season is distributed across several expenses, including land rental (locally known as mukhammis), which ranges between 500,000 and 600,000 pounds. Additional costs include ploughing, field preparation, planting, fuel for irrigation, labor for field maintenance and cleaning, as well as agricultural inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides. These expenses represent a significant burden on farmers, especially given limited financial resources.

Despite these challenges, the productivity of a single field ranges between 350 and 400 sacks of onions. These quantities contribute to stimulating trade in local markets, particularly in Tawila, Fangah, Malam, and Shangil Tobaya, and even reach more distant areas such as Muglad.

In a related context, the experience of Mertal reflects an important economic shift over recent decades. The population has gradually moved from reliance on livestock herding to agriculture, which has now become the backbone of the local economy. Residents depend on rain-fed farming to produce millet during the rainy season, while in the summer season, they turn to onion cultivation as a primary cash crop.

The population of the area is estimated at around 65,595 people, distributed across more than 13,000 households. This underscores the need for continued support in infrastructure and agricultural services to help reduce costs and improve productivity.

Mertal stands out as a model of a rural community that has adapted to economic changes by relying on its agricultural resources to strengthen livelihoods. However, there remains a pressing need for greater technical and financial support to ensure the sustainability of this transformation.