Determinants of Yield Gap in Small-scale Apple Farms in Balochistan, Pakistan

Abstract

Amid declining yield of apple (Malus domestica) in Balochistan, this study analyzed yield gaps of commonly grown varieties ‘Katja’ (Malus domestica ’Katy’) and Red Delicious (Malus domestica ‘Borkh’) grown at experimental station and in farmers’ fields using data collected through a survey of 181 officially designated small farmers in Mastung district in Balochistan, Pakistan. The average actual yields of commonly grown Katja and Red Delicious apple in farmers’ fields were below one-third of the experimental station yields, leading to an average experimental-station based yield gap (YGE) of about 14,593 and 15,942 kg hectare−1, respectively. A significant variation in the yields of both varieties was also found within farmers’ fields. The average yield gaps between the model-farmer (farmer with highest yield) and common farmer yields (YGM) were 4960 and 7288 kg hectare−1 for Katja and Red Delicious, respectively. Yield gap indexes (YGI) were also developed to calculate yield variability between experimental station and current farmers’ yield (YGIE), and also within farmers’ yield variability (YGIM). The mean YGIE was 69.3%, whereas the mean YGIM was 46.5%, indicating the possibility of increasing yield by 53.5%. Farmer’s experience in apple farming, household labor force size, tree density, soil suitability, weed management, access to credit and extension services, and attendance of training on apple farming had significantly influenced apple yield gap. Landholding size and contract apple marketing system were other factors significantly expanding the yield gap. Addressing constraints to farmers’ access to yield-improving resources and farm management would be a vital step towards significant productivity improvements in apple farming.