In 1996, about 15.7%, 8.9%, 13.2% and 22.4% of the district's total area were arable, pasture, forest and built-up areas respectively, while the remaining was attributed to degraded and other areas. There were 36 Farmers' Associations and one Services Cooperative with 25, 757 (2577 females) and 1336 (121 females) member farmers respectively. Average number of farm plots and farm oxen holding sizes per farmer household were 2.4 and 0.9 respectively. About 30% of the farmers were without farm ox. Maize, sorghum, haricot bean, barley and wheat are the dominant crops in the district. Application of manure, fertilizers, crop rotation and short fallowing methods are exercised to maintain soil fertility. About 1389 quintals of fertilizers (Urea was 702.5 quintals), 112 quintals of improved seed, 169 liters and 117 kg pesticides and 85 liters of herbicides were distributed to the farmers in the district. Stalk borer, army worm, birds, rodent, monkey, warthog, weevils and crickets are major crop pests. There were 68,408 cattle, 23,785 goats, 10569 sheep, 6,807 assess, 5,164 camels and 22,283 poultry in Gursum district. Widely prevalent livestock diseases are blackleg, anthrax, pasturelosis and orf disease. About 41277 and 29167 livestock were vaccinated and treated against different diseases respectively.