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Sudan Journal of Agricultural Research

Economic Aspects of Traditional Underground Pit Storage (Matmura). The Case of Moya, Central Sudan.

N.I. Bakheit^l, M. A. Ahmed², C.J. Stigter³, H. A. Mohamed⁴, A.E. Mohamed⁵, A. T. Abdalla ⁶.


Abstract

Economic and social aspects of the traditional farmer underground pit storage (locally known as matmuras), were investigated with special reference to Jebel Moya region in Central Sudan. Storage of dura (Sorghum hieolor), in matmuras offers a farmer high return on capital investment. Matmuras proved to be cost-effective in terms of both capital outlays and opportunity costs. They compare favourably to warehouses thus considered by farmers as economically feasible. Matmuras save high costs of empty bags and chemicals otherwise needed for warehousing. Dura grains are efficiently stored by farmers in matmuras gaining in economies of scale. Cost of a pit per unit of surface is a decreasing function of the pit surface and of the volume of sorghum stored. The former function is proven to be highly linear, so the latter is linear as well when depths are the same. The paper ends with recommendations for further sustainable development of underground storage.

 

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Sudan Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 5 (2005) PP. 89-96