The cocoa yield gap in Ghana: A quantification and an analysis of factors that could narrow the gap
CONTEXT Global cocoa production is largely concentrated in West Africa where over 70% of cocoa is produced. Here, cocoa farming is largely a rain-fed, low-input system with low average yields, which are expected to decline with climate change. With increasing demand, there is a need to evaluate oppo...
| Autores principales: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Formato: | Journal Article |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
| Publicado: |
Elsevier
2022
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/120413 |
| _version_ | 1855528996788240384 |
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| author | Asante, Paulina A. Rahn, Eric Zuidema, Pieter A. Rozendaal, Danae M.A. Baan, Maris E.G. van der Läderach, Peter R.D. Asare, Richard Cryer, Nicholas Anten, Niels P.R. |
| author_browse | Anten, Niels P.R. Asante, Paulina A. Asare, Richard Baan, Maris E.G. van der Cryer, Nicholas Läderach, Peter R.D. Rahn, Eric Rozendaal, Danae M.A. Zuidema, Pieter A. |
| author_facet | Asante, Paulina A. Rahn, Eric Zuidema, Pieter A. Rozendaal, Danae M.A. Baan, Maris E.G. van der Läderach, Peter R.D. Asare, Richard Cryer, Nicholas Anten, Niels P.R. |
| author_sort | Asante, Paulina A. |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | CONTEXT
Global cocoa production is largely concentrated in West Africa where over 70% of cocoa is produced. Here, cocoa farming is largely a rain-fed, low-input system with low average yields, which are expected to decline with climate change. With increasing demand, there is a need to evaluate opportunities to increase production whilst avoiding deforestation and expansion to croplands. Thus, it is important to know how much additional cocoa can be produced on existing farmland, and what factors determine this potential for increased yield.
OBJECTIVE
The objective was to quantify the cocoa yield gap in Ghana and identify the factors that can contribute to narrowing the gap.
METHODS
We calculated the cocoa yield gap as the difference between potential yield (i. water-limited potential(Yw) quantified using a crop model, ii. attainable yield in high-input systems(YE), iii. attainable yield in low-input systems(YF)) and actual farmer yield. Both absolute and relative yield gaps were calculated. We then related each yield gap (absolute & relative) as a function of environment and management variables using mixed-effects models.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS
There were considerable yield gaps on all cocoa farms. Maximum water-limited yield gaps (YGW) were very large with a mean absolute gap of 4577 kg/ha representing 86% of Yw. Attainable yield gap in high-input (YGE) was lower with mean absolute gap of 1930 kg/ha representing 73% of YE. The yield gap in low-input (YGF) was even lower with mean absolute gap of 469 kg/ha representing 42% of YF. Mixed-effects models showed that, absolute YGW were larger at sites with higher precipitation in the minor wet and minimum temperature in the minor dry season explaining 22% of the variability in YGW. These same factors and cocoa planting density explained 28% of variability in absolute YGE. Regardless of climate, absolute YGF and relative YGW, YGE and YGF were reduced by increasing cocoa planting density and application of fungicide against black pod. The models explained 25% of the variability in absolute YGF, and 33%, 33% and 25% in relative YGW, YGE and YGF respectively.
In conclusion, climate determined absolute YGW in Ghana whilst absolute YGE were determined by both climate and management. In contrast, absolute YGF and relative YGW, YGE and YGF can be reduced by agronomic management practices.
SIGNIFICANCE
Our study is one of the first to quantify cocoa yield gaps in West Africa and shows that these can be closed by improved agronomic practices. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace120413 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2022 |
| publishDateRange | 2022 |
| publishDateSort | 2022 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| publisherStr | Elsevier |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1204132025-12-08T09:54:28Z The cocoa yield gap in Ghana: A quantification and an analysis of factors that could narrow the gap Asante, Paulina A. Rahn, Eric Zuidema, Pieter A. Rozendaal, Danae M.A. Baan, Maris E.G. van der Läderach, Peter R.D. Asare, Richard Cryer, Nicholas Anten, Niels P.R. crop yield yield gap agricultural practices rendimiento de cultivos diferencias de rendimiento prácticas agrícolas cocoa theobroma cacao yields spacing ghana CONTEXT Global cocoa production is largely concentrated in West Africa where over 70% of cocoa is produced. Here, cocoa farming is largely a rain-fed, low-input system with low average yields, which are expected to decline with climate change. With increasing demand, there is a need to evaluate opportunities to increase production whilst avoiding deforestation and expansion to croplands. Thus, it is important to know how much additional cocoa can be produced on existing farmland, and what factors determine this potential for increased yield. OBJECTIVE The objective was to quantify the cocoa yield gap in Ghana and identify the factors that can contribute to narrowing the gap. METHODS We calculated the cocoa yield gap as the difference between potential yield (i. water-limited potential(Yw) quantified using a crop model, ii. attainable yield in high-input systems(YE), iii. attainable yield in low-input systems(YF)) and actual farmer yield. Both absolute and relative yield gaps were calculated. We then related each yield gap (absolute & relative) as a function of environment and management variables using mixed-effects models. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS There were considerable yield gaps on all cocoa farms. Maximum water-limited yield gaps (YGW) were very large with a mean absolute gap of 4577 kg/ha representing 86% of Yw. Attainable yield gap in high-input (YGE) was lower with mean absolute gap of 1930 kg/ha representing 73% of YE. The yield gap in low-input (YGF) was even lower with mean absolute gap of 469 kg/ha representing 42% of YF. Mixed-effects models showed that, absolute YGW were larger at sites with higher precipitation in the minor wet and minimum temperature in the minor dry season explaining 22% of the variability in YGW. These same factors and cocoa planting density explained 28% of variability in absolute YGE. Regardless of climate, absolute YGF and relative YGW, YGE and YGF were reduced by increasing cocoa planting density and application of fungicide against black pod. The models explained 25% of the variability in absolute YGF, and 33%, 33% and 25% in relative YGW, YGE and YGF respectively. In conclusion, climate determined absolute YGW in Ghana whilst absolute YGE were determined by both climate and management. In contrast, absolute YGF and relative YGW, YGE and YGF can be reduced by agronomic management practices. SIGNIFICANCE Our study is one of the first to quantify cocoa yield gaps in West Africa and shows that these can be closed by improved agronomic practices. 2022-08 2022-08-03T08:33:05Z 2022-08-03T08:33:05Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/120413 en Open Access application/pdf Elsevier Asante, P. A.; Rahn, E.; Zuidema, P. A.; Rozendaal, D. M. A.; van der Baan, M. E. G.; Läderach, P.; Asare, R.; Cryer, N. C.; Anten, N. P. R. (2022). The cocoa yield gap in Ghana: A quantification and an analysis of factors that could narrow the gap. Agricultural Systems 201: 103473. ISSN 0308-521X |
| spellingShingle | crop yield yield gap agricultural practices rendimiento de cultivos diferencias de rendimiento prácticas agrícolas cocoa theobroma cacao yields spacing ghana Asante, Paulina A. Rahn, Eric Zuidema, Pieter A. Rozendaal, Danae M.A. Baan, Maris E.G. van der Läderach, Peter R.D. Asare, Richard Cryer, Nicholas Anten, Niels P.R. The cocoa yield gap in Ghana: A quantification and an analysis of factors that could narrow the gap |
| title | The cocoa yield gap in Ghana: A quantification and an analysis of factors that could narrow the gap |
| title_full | The cocoa yield gap in Ghana: A quantification and an analysis of factors that could narrow the gap |
| title_fullStr | The cocoa yield gap in Ghana: A quantification and an analysis of factors that could narrow the gap |
| title_full_unstemmed | The cocoa yield gap in Ghana: A quantification and an analysis of factors that could narrow the gap |
| title_short | The cocoa yield gap in Ghana: A quantification and an analysis of factors that could narrow the gap |
| title_sort | cocoa yield gap in ghana a quantification and an analysis of factors that could narrow the gap |
| topic | crop yield yield gap agricultural practices rendimiento de cultivos diferencias de rendimiento prácticas agrícolas cocoa theobroma cacao yields spacing ghana |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/120413 |
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