Abstract
Maize is an important staple crop in Ethiopia. Reducing the yield gap - the difference between actual and (water-limited) potential yield - has wide implications for food security and policy. In this paper we combine stochastic frontier analysis of household survey data with agronomic information on (water-limited) potential yield to decompose the maize yield gap in Ethiopia and highlight policy solutions to reduce the yield gap. Our analysis suggests that lack of access to advanced technologies makes up the largest component of the maize yield gap but market imperfections, economic constraints and management constraints are also important determinants. Potentially, maize production can be increased almost fivefold if all these constraints would be addressed simultaneously and the yield gap could be fully closed. Another finding of the paper is measurement issues in the national household survey (LSMS-ISA), a key source of information for scientists to assess agricultural policies in Ethiopia and other African countries. A comparison with results from a crop model suggests a large number of unrealistic values related to key maize input and output variables. Combining economic and agronomic approaches is therefore not only useful to identify policies to reduce maize yield gaps, but also to assess and improve the quality of data-bases on which recommendations are made.
Highlights
Maize is critical for food security in Ethiopia
Our analysis suggests that lack of access to advanced technologies makes up the largest component of the maize yield gap but market imperfections, economic constraints and management constraints are important determinants
The main aim of this paper is to provide a detailed analysis of the maize yield gap in Ethiopia, identify its main causes and highlight policy options that contribute to reducing the yield gap
Summary
Maize is critical for food security in Ethiopia. More than 9 million smallholders grow maize on about 2 million ha (14% of total land area in Ethiopia) and around 88% of their production is used for food consumption (Abate et al, 2015). In terms of calorie intake, maize is the most important staple crop for the rural Ethiopian population (Berhane et al, 2011). Maize yields have doubled from around 1.6 t/ha in 1990 to more than 3.7 t/ha in recent years, the highest level in sub-Saharan Africa after South Africa (FAO, 2019). Important causes for the increased productivity include increased availability and use of modern inputs (e.g. modern varieties and fertilizer), better extension services and increasing demand (Abate et al, 2015)
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