Structure, Conduct and Performance (SCP) is used as an analytical framework, to make relations amongst market structure, market conduct and market performance. The objective of this study was to analyze the factors, which affect SCP of livestock markets in the Butana area, Sudan in 2011. A total sample of 222 livestock traders were surveyed using structured questionnaire in seven primary and secondary markets distributed in Butana area. Both descriptive statistics and econometric methods were used to analyze data collected from traders using SPSS19 and STATA10 software. The logit regression model was employed to estimate the variables affecting the SCP of livestock markets in the area under study. Poor infrastructure of livestock markets, prices of livestock and high transaction cost had negative and significant effect (P<0.0) on structure, conduct and performance (SCP) of primary markets. As expected, lack of access to credit had negative effects (P<0.05) on SCP. Policies are required to improve livestock markets facilities, to encourage a higher price for the sale of animals at a younger age and to provide credit services to livestock traders in order to develop the sector and improve the livelihoods of pastoralists in the Butana area. پرونده مقاله

Al-Baja area, in White Nile State is considered one of the most important rangelands in Sudan as a rainy season grazing area, it used intensively by the herders. The study was conducted in the end of rainy season, November 2019. The study aimed to assess the impacts of intensive use of rangeland on the vegetation attributes and the soil seed bank of Al-Baja area. Parker loop and quadrate were used to determine the vegetation attributes. The number of samples was distributed systematically along line transects. Soil sample was taken from three depths (0-5, 6-10 and 11-15 cm) to assess soil seed bank. The data were analyzed using SAS statistical program, Duncan procedure for mean separation. There were significant differences between the ground cover components. The litters and bare soil recorded high percentage of 40 and 31%, respectively. The species Schoenefeldia gracilis recorded high plant composition 93% with density of 75 plant/m². The study showed that the biomass and carrying capacity of Al-Baja area was very low. The results found that Schoenefeldia gracilis recorded highest presence of seed in the soil (live 68.2% and dead 70.4%). The study revealed that the soil depth had a significant impact on the seed number and density in the study area and the highest values of both live and dead seed were observed in the upper soil layer (0-5 cm). The natural rangelands in Al-Baja area have been severely degraded as a result of intensive use by the herders and their animals. پرونده مقاله