, 24/08/2010 - FAO/Sudan commissioned a cereal availability study in the northern states of the Sudan in 2010. The overall objective of the cereal availability study was to assess the volume of marketable surplus and the availability of cereals during the 2010 marketing year with the view to explore and determine different courses of action for acquiring locally purchased cereals for relief and development activities. The cereal availability study is based on both primary and secondary data sources, including key producers-irrigation, traditional rain-fed and mechanized rain-fed farms-as well as cereal traders and flour mills. A total of 209 producers, 124 cereal traders and 14 flour mills were interviewed in 12 northern states of Sudan. The three States of Darfur were not included in the study for security reasons. Samples were selected in consultation with the Directors of State Agricultural Planning Offices and other knowledgeable people. Attempts were made to include different categories of traders (large, medium and small) and producers (irrigated traditional rain-fed and mechanized rain-fed farms).