Explaining yield-gaps

In the last week of October, field activities in Savelugu, Ghana have been started for the Imagine-project. During the field visit low plant density and stunted growth were observed. Besides, part of the maize cobs was damaged and infestation with parasitical weeds for maize (Striga) was observed. In addition, application of fertilizer is low.

All the observed factors contribute to lower actual yields with reference to the potential yield for maize. The Imagine-project aims to explain the gap between actual and potential yields for maize in two areas in Ghana and two areas in Ethiopia. Imagine is one of the next steps to extend the work that has been done for the Global Yield Gap Atlas.

In the first phase of the Imagine-project, the emphasis of the field work is on data gathering through household surveys and soil and yield measurements. The next survey round is in Nkoranza, Ghana in December 2015. The field activities in two areas in Ethiopia will commence in March 2016. The second phase of the project will be more focussed on implementing case studies in the selected areas.

The Imagine-project is a collaboration between Plant Production Systems Group (PPS), the Dutch Agricultural Economic Institute (LEI) and research partners in Ghana and Ethiopia. The funding is supplied by the Growth Research Program (DEGRP) of the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).