The tomato plant is native to South America (Peru and Ecuador) and was first domesticated in Mexico. It is one of the world’s major fresh and processed fruits. Tomato was introduced to cultivation in the Middle East around the end of the 18th century. The crop is now by far the largest vegetable crop in Egypt. In 2008 the country ranked 5th in the world with 9.2 MT of tomatoes produced.

Taxonomy:

Family:

Solanaceae

Genus:

Solanum

Species:

S. lycopersicum

Occurrence & Agricultural Importance in this Country:

Cultivation Areas:

Tomato is considered as one of the most important vegetables crops in Sudan. Due to its economics and nutritional value. It currently occupies about 28% of the total area of vegetables grown in Sudan (Ahmed 2009) Sudan produces about 950 thousand tons of tomatoes per year.

Main Varieties:

Streen B, Moneymaker, Admiral, Maomend, Pritchard, Fireball, Custer, Oarljana, Beto 86.

Marketing Information and Uses:

Use:

fresh, dry, manufactured or as a juice.

Markets:

The average consumption per capita in Sudan is about 8.8 kg per year compared with 10 kg in the Temperate regions Sudan is not considered to be an exporter of tomatoes, but Sudan imports very small amounts of tomatoes, around 20 tons per year (2008 data).

Crop Management:
Cultivation conditions and methods:

Soil Type:

Tomato tolerates all kind of soil except sandy poor soil and best planting in the fertile alluvial land with good drainage.

Temperatures:

Tomato prefers moderate temperatures during the day (21 – 28 C) and lower in night (5-20 c) and the relative humidity should not be high.

Water Requirements:

Irrigation depends on the temperature and the type of soil. Irrigation should be done frequently after transplanting and when it’s hot. In some areas of Sudan tomatoes are not irrigated but rely on being rain fed.

Nutrition Requirements:

Soils should be subject to soil analysis for nutrient availability to define the Fertilizer needs and ensure a healthy high productive plant.

Harvesting Period:

Tomatoes are usually harvested after 2-3 months from transplanting, depending on the maturity stage and the purpose of use (domestic consumption- manufacturing. Picking might be every 3 days.

Harvesting Methods:

Hand-picking

source https://www.sudan.cropscience.bayer.com/ar/Crops/Sugarcane.aspx