IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/agisys/v131y2014icp45-55.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Narrowing the rice yield gap in East and Southern Africa: Using and adapting existing technologies

Author

Listed:
  • Nhamo, Nhamo
  • Rodenburg, Jonne
  • Zenna, Negussie
  • Makombe, Godswill
  • Luzi-Kihupi, Ashura

Abstract

The importance of rice production in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has significantly increased over the past decades. Currently, rice plays a pivotal role in improving household food security and national economies in SSA. However, current rice productivity of smallholder farms is low due to a myriad of production constraints and suboptimal production methods, while future productivity is threatened by climate change, water shortage and soil degradation. Improved rice cultivars and agronomic management techniques, to enhance nutrient and water availability and use efficiencies and to control weeds, have the potential to increase yields. The aim of this study was to assess the relative contribution of such technologies to enhanced rice productivity. Relative yield gains emanating from nutrient, water and weed management were surveyed and calculated from literature. Partial budgeting was used to evaluate viability of fertilizer technology under GAP. Substantial yield gains ranging from 0.5tha−1 to 2.9tha−1 are projected following the use of improved technologies. Relative yield gains decreased in the following order: weed management (91.6%)>organic fertilizer application (90.4%)>bunding (86.7%)>mineral fertilizer application (51.9%)>tied ridges (42.6%). Combining fertilizer with unimproved rice cultivars led to negative returns. The lack of integration of improved technologies, to increase synergies and alleviate socio-economic constraints, largely explained the existing yield gaps. The gains obtained through improved rice cultivars can be further enhanced through application of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), improving nutrient, water and weed management technologies, based on the local resource availabilities of small farms. We therefore propose adapting technologies to local conditions and developing and using rice production decision tools based on GAP to enable rice farmers in SSA to improve resource-use efficiencies and crop productivity at the farm level.

Suggested Citation

  • Nhamo, Nhamo & Rodenburg, Jonne & Zenna, Negussie & Makombe, Godswill & Luzi-Kihupi, Ashura, 2014. "Narrowing the rice yield gap in East and Southern Africa: Using and adapting existing technologies," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 45-55.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agisys:v:131:y:2014:i:c:p:45-55
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2014.08.003
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308521X1400105X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.agsy.2014.08.003?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kajisa, Kei & Payongayong, Ellen, 2011. "Potential of and constraints to the rice Green Revolution in Mozambique: A case study of the Chokwe irrigation scheme," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 614-625, October.
    2. Giller, K.E. & Tittonell, P. & Rufino, M.C. & van Wijk, M.T. & Zingore, S. & Mapfumo, P. & Adjei-Nsiah, S. & Herrero, M. & Chikowo, R. & Corbeels, M. & Rowe, E.C. & Baijukya, F. & Mwijage, A. & Smith,, 2011. "Communicating complexity: Integrated assessment of trade-offs concerning soil fertility management within African farming systems to support innovation and development," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 104(2), pages 191-203, February.
    3. Kennedy, Eileen & Reardon, Thomas, 1994. "Shift to non-traditional grains in the diets of East and West Africa: role of women's opportunity cost of time," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 19(1), pages 45-56, February.
    4. de Wit, C. T., 1992. "Resource use efficiency in agriculture," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 40(1-3), pages 125-151.
    5. Yoko KIJIMA & Dick SSERUNKUUMA & Keijiro OTSUKA, 2006. "How Revolutionary Is The “Nerica Revolution”? Evidence From Uganda," The Developing Economies, Institute of Developing Economies, vol. 44(2), pages 252-267, June.
    6. Sylvain Perret & Joe Stevens, 2006. "Socio-economic reasons for the low adoption of water conservation technologies by smallholder farmers in southern Africa: a review of the literature," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(4), pages 461-476.
    7. Rodenburg, Jonne & Zwart, Sander J. & Kiepe, Paul & Narteh, Lawrence T. & Dogbe, Wilson & Wopereis, Marco C.S., 2014. "Sustainable rice production in African inland valleys: Seizing regional potentials through local approaches," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 1-11.
    8. Stoop, Willem A. & Uphoff, Norman & Kassam, Amir, 2002. "A review of agricultural research issues raised by the system of rice intensification (SRI) from Madagascar: opportunities for improving farming systems for resource-poor farmers," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 71(3), pages 249-274, March.
    9. Krupnik, Timothy J. & Rodenburg, Jonne & Haden, Van Ryan & Mbaye, Doudou & Shennan, Carol, 2012. "Genotypic trade-offs between water productivity and weed competition under the System of Rice Intensification in the Sahel," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 156-166.
    10. Nkonya, Ephraim & Kaizzi, Crammer & Pender, John, 2005. "Determinants of nutrient balances in a maize farming system in eastern Uganda," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 85(2), pages 155-182, August.
    11. Seck, Papa A. & Tollens, Eric & Wopereis, Marco C.S. & Diagne, Aliou & Bamba, Ibrahim, 2010. "Rising trends and variability of rice prices: Threats and opportunities for sub-Saharan Africa," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(5), pages 403-411, October.
    12. Krupnik, Timothy J. & Shennan, Carol & Settle, William H. & Demont, Matty & Ndiaye, Alassane B. & Rodenburg, Jonne, 2012. "Improving irrigated rice production in the Senegal River Valley through experiential learning and innovation," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 101-112.
    13. Moser, Christine M. & Barrett, Christopher B., 2003. "The disappointing adoption dynamics of a yield-increasing, low external-input technology: the case of SRI in Madagascar," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 76(3), pages 1085-1100, June.
    14. Haefele, S. M. & Wopereis, M. C. S. & Ndiaye, M. K. & Kropff, M. J., 2003. "A framework to improve fertilizer recommendations for irrigated rice in West Africa," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 76(1), pages 313-335, April.
    15. Stoop, Willem A. & Adam, Abdoulaye & Kassam, Amir, 2009. "Comparing rice production systems: A challenge for agronomic research and for the dissemination of knowledge-intensive farming practices," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 96(11), pages 1491-1501, November.
    16. Dobermann, A., 2004. "A critical assessment of the system of rice intensification (SRI)," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 79(3), pages 261-281, March.
    17. Raes, D. & Kafiriti, E.M. & Wellens, J. & Deckers, J. & Maertens, A. & Mugogo, S. & Dondeyne, S. & Descheemaeker, K., 2007. "Can soil bunds increase the production of rain-fed lowland rice in south eastern Tanzania?," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 89(3), pages 229-235, May.
    18. Nakano, Yuko & Kajisa, Kei, 2012. "The determinants of technology adoption: a case of the rice sector in Tanzania," 2012 Conference, August 18-24, 2012, Foz do Iguacu, Brazil 126822, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    19. Loevinsohn, Michael E. & Mugarura, Johnson & Nkusi, Augustin, 1994. "Cooperation and innovation by farmer groups: Scale in the development of Rwandan valley farming systems," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 46(2), pages 141-155.
    20. Noltze, Martin & Schwarze, Stefan & Qaim, Matin, 2012. "Understanding the adoption of system technologies in smallholder agriculture: The system of rice intensification (SRI) in Timor Leste," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 64-73.
    21. Matty Demont & Amy C. Rizzotto, 2012. "Policy Sequencing and the Development of Rice Value Chains in Senegal," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 30(4), pages 451-472, July.
    22. Tsujimoto, Yasuhiro & Horie, Takeshi & Randriamihary, Hamon & Shiraiwa, Tatsuhiko & Homma, Koki, 2009. "Soil management: The key factors for higher productivity in the fields utilizing the system of rice intensification (SRI) in the central highland of Madagascar," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 100(1-3), pages 61-71, April.
    23. Le Gal, P.-Y. & Dugué, P. & Faure, G. & Novak, S., 2011. "How does research address the design of innovative agricultural production systems at the farm level? A review," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 104(9), pages 714-728.
    24. Demont, Matty & Jouve, Philippe & Stessens, Johan & Tollens, Eric, 2007. "Boserup versus Malthus revisited: Evolution of farming systems in northern Cote d'Ivoire," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 93(1-3), pages 215-228, March.
    25. Kijima, Yoko & Otsuka, Keijiro & Sserunkuuma, Dick, 2011. "An Inquiry into Constraints on a Green Revolution in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Case of NERICA Rice in Uganda," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 77-86, January.
    26. Renkow, Mitch & Byerlee, Derek, 2010. "The impacts of CGIAR research: A review of recent evidence," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(5), pages 391-402, October.
    27. Erenstein, Olaf, 2011. "Cropping systems and crop residue management in the Trans-Gangetic Plains: Issues and challenges for conservation agriculture from village surveys," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 104(1), pages 54-62, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Mary Ng’endo & Julien Nduwimana & Donald Villanueva & Matty Demont, 2023. "How Can Pairing Quantitative With Qualitative Data Collection Methods Better Elicit Rice Varietal Selection? Evidence From Burundi," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, December.
    2. Grotelüschen, Kristina & Gaydon, Donald S. & Langensiepen, Matthias & Ziegler, Susanne & Kwesiga, Julius & Senthilkumar, Kalimuthu & Whitbread, Anthony M. & Becker, Mathias, 2021. "Assessing the effects of management and hydro-edaphic conditions on rice in contrasting East African wetlands using experimental and modelling approaches," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    3. Yuko Nakano & Yuki Tanaka & Keijiro Otsuka, 2014. "To What Extent Do Improved Practices Increase Productivity of Small-Scale Rice Cultivation in A Rain-fed Area? : Evidence from Tanzania," GRIPS Discussion Papers 14-21, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies.
    4. Limin Chuan & Huaiguo Zheng & Sufen Sun & Ailing Wang & Jipei Liu & Tongke Zhao & Jingjuan Zhao, 2019. "A Sustainable Way of Fertilizer Recommendation Based on Yield Response and Agronomic Efficiency for Chinese Cabbage," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(16), pages 1-16, August.
    5. Shen Yuan & Kazuki Saito & Pepijn A. J. van Oort & Martin K. van Ittersum & Shaobing Peng & Patricio Grassini, 2024. "Intensifying rice production to reduce imports and land conversion in Africa," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    6. Kathrin Hasler & Hans-Werner Olfs & Onno Omta & Stefanie Bröring, 2017. "Drivers for the Adoption of Different Eco-Innovation Types in the Fertilizer Sector: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-22, November.
    7. Traore, Seydou & Zhang, Lei & Guven, Aytac & Fipps, Guy, 2020. "Rice yield response forecasting tool (YIELDCAST) for supporting climate change adaptation decision in Sahel," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 239(C).
    8. Jonne Rodenburg & Jean-Martial Johnson & Ibnou Dieng & Kalimuthu Senthilkumar & Elke Vandamme & Cyriaque Akakpo & Moundibaye Dastre Allarangaye & Idriss Baggie & Samuel Oladele Bakare & Ralph Kwame Ba, 2019. "Status quo of chemical weed control in rice in sub-Saharan Africa," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 11(1), pages 69-92, February.
    9. Ragasa, Catherine & Chapoto, Anthony, 2016. "Limits to green revolution in rice in Africa: The case of Ghana:," IFPRI discussion papers 1561, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ly, Proyuth & Jensen, Lars Stoumann & Bruun, Thilde Bech & Rutz, Dominik & de Neergaard, Andreas, 2012. "The System of Rice Intensification: Adapted practices, reported outcomes and their relevance in Cambodia," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 16-27.
    2. Krupnik, Timothy J. & Rodenburg, Jonne & Haden, Van Ryan & Mbaye, Doudou & Shennan, Carol, 2012. "Genotypic trade-offs between water productivity and weed competition under the System of Rice Intensification in the Sahel," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 156-166.
    3. Yuko Nakano & Yuki Tanaka & Keijiro Otsuka, 2018. "Impact of training on the intensification of rice farming: evidence from rainfed areas in Tanzania," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 49(2), pages 193-202, March.
    4. Berkhout, Ezra & Glover, Dominic & Kuyvenhoven, Arie, 2015. "On-farm impact of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI): Evidence and knowledge gaps," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 157-166.
    5. Noltze, Martin & Schwarze, Stefan & Qaim, Matin, 2013. "Impacts of natural resource management technologies on agricultural yield and household income: The system of rice intensification in Timor Leste," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 59-68.
    6. Varma, Poornima, 2017. "Adoption of System of Rice Intensification and its Impact on Rice Yields and Household Income: An Analysis for India," IIMA Working Papers WP2017-02-03, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Research and Publication Department.
    7. James Sumberg & John Thompson & Philip Woodhouse, 2013. "Why agronomy in the developing world has become contentious," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 30(1), pages 71-83, March.
    8. Varma, P., 2018. "Adoption and the Impact of System of Rice Intensification on Rice Yields and Household Income: A study for India," 2018 Conference, July 28-August 2, 2018, Vancouver, British Columbia 275986, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    9. Noltze, Martin & Schwarze, Stefan & Qaim, Matin, 2012. "Understanding the adoption of system technologies in smallholder agriculture: The system of rice intensification (SRI) in Timor Leste," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 64-73.
    10. Sarr, Mare & Bezabih Ayele, Mintewab & Kimani, Mumbi E. & Ruhinduka, Remidius, 2021. "Who benefits from climate-friendly agriculture? The marginal returns to a rainfed system of rice intensification in Tanzania," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    11. Varma, Poornima, 2016. "Agricultural Technology Adoption under Multiple Constraints: An Analysis of System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in India," 2016 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Boston, Massachusetts 235806, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    12. Tariq, Azeem & de Neergaard, Andreas & Jensen, Lars Stoumann & Sander, Bjoern Ole & Trinh, Mai Van & Vu, Quynh Duong & Wassmann, Reiner & de Tourdonnet, Stephane, 2018. "Co-design and assessment of mitigation practices in rice production systems: A case study in northern Vietnam," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 72-82.
    13. Senthilkumar, K. & Bindraban, P.S. & Thiyagarajan, T.M. & de Ridder, N. & Giller, K.E., 2008. "Modified rice cultivation in Tamil Nadu, India: Yield gains and farmers' (lack of) acceptance," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 98(2), pages 82-94, September.
    14. Reynolds, Travis W. & Anderson, C. Leigh & Slakie, Elysia & Gugerty, Mary Kay, 2015. "How Common Crop Yield Measures Misrepresent Productivity among Smallholder Farmers," 2015 Conference, August 9-14, 2015, Milan, Italy 212485, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    15. Ozaki, Ryosuke & Sakurai, Takeshi, 2020. "The Adoption of Upland Rice by Lowland Rice Farmers and Its Impacts on Their Food Security and Welfare in Madagascar," Japanese Journal of Agricultural Economics (formerly Japanese Journal of Rural Economics), Agricultural Economics Society of Japan (AESJ), vol. 22.
    16. Nakano, Yuko & Kajisa, Kei, 2012. "The determinants of technology adoption: a case of the rice sector in Tanzania," 2012 Conference, August 18-24, 2012, Foz do Iguacu, Brazil 126822, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    17. N’cho, Simon Akahoua & Mourits, Monique & Rodenburg, Jonne & Demont, Matty & Oude Lansink, Alfons, 2014. "Determinants of parasitic weed infestation in rainfed lowland rice in Benin," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 105-115.
    18. Wakeyo, Mekonnen B. & Gardebroek, Cornelis, 2013. "Does water harvesting induce fertilizer use among smallholders? Evidence from Ethiopia," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 54-63.
    19. Makosa, Dan & Takayanagi, Nagatada, 2014. "Improving Rural Livelihood through NERICA Farming: An Inquiry into Najja Sub-county in Central Uganda," Asian Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development, Asian Economic and Social Society (AESS), vol. 4(01), pages 1-15, January.
    20. Timothy N. Njeru & Yukichi Mano & Keijiro Otsuka, 2016. "Role of Access to Credit in Rice Production in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Case of Mwea Irrigation Scheme in Kenya," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 25(2), pages 300-321.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:agisys:v:131:y:2014:i:c:p:45-55. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/agsy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.