Abstract
Abstract According to potato experts from ten Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries working together in a community of practice (CoP) over a 3-years period, potato farmers across SSA can increase their current annual production of 10.8 million metric tons by 140% if they had access to high quality seed along with improved management practices. This paper describes this innovative new methodology tested on potato for the first time, combining modelling and a comprehensive online survey through a CoP. The intent was to overcome the paucity of experimental information required for crop modelling. Researchers, whose data contributed to estimating model parameters, participated in the study using Solanum, a crop model developed by the International Potato Center (CIP). The first finding was that model parameters estimated through participatory modelling using experts’ knowledge were good approximations of those obtained experimentally. The estimated yield gap was 58 Mg ha-1, of which 35 corresponded to a research gap (potential yield minus research yield) and 24 to farmers’ gap (research yield minus farmer’s yield). Over a 6-month period, SurveyMonkey, a Web-based platform was used to assess yield gap drivers. The survey revealed that poor quality seed and bacterial wilt were the main yield gap drivers as perceived by survey respondents.
Highlights
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), the third most important food crop after rice and wheat, is consumed by over a billion people (Devaux et al 2014; Haverkort and Struik 2015)
Results showed that the Parameter Estimator is a good tool to estimate model parameters based on expert knowledge of the crop (Table 1)
Simulated and observed yield comparison showed an RMSE of 5.99 using parameters estimated with standard procedures, and an RMSE of 7.64, using Parameter Estimator tool
Summary
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), the third most important food crop after rice and wheat, is consumed by over a billion people (Devaux et al 2014; Haverkort and Struik 2015). Danbaba Anthony Kude, National Root Crops Research Institute, P.M 04, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria Charles Lung'aho, International Potato Center (CIP), Chimoio, Mozambique Carolino Martinho, Mozambique Institute of Agricultural Research (IIAM). P.O. Box 238, Lichinga, Mozambique Bouwe Nasona, Institut National pour l’Etude et la Recherche Agronomiques (INERA), Mulungu, Democratic Republic of Congo John Onditi, Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), P. O. Box 338, Tigoni, Kenya Jean Marc Randrianaivoarivony, FIFAMANOR, Antsirabe, Madagascar Christopher M.
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