Enumerator bias in yield measurement: A comparison of harvest versus allometric measurement of coffee yields

Measuring yield accurately is critical for evaluating the impact of interventions that aim to increase agricultural productivity but presents challenges in the case of coffee due to the long harvest period. An allometric approach, in which the fruits on randomly selected branches and clusters are co...

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Autores principales: Hoffmann, Vivian, Murphy, Mike, Rwakazooba, Ezra, Angebault, Charles, Kagezi, Godfrey, Zane, Giulia
Formato: Artículo preliminar
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: International Food Policy Research Institute 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/143441
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author Hoffmann, Vivian
Murphy, Mike
Rwakazooba, Ezra
Angebault, Charles
Kagezi, Godfrey
Zane, Giulia
author_browse Angebault, Charles
Hoffmann, Vivian
Kagezi, Godfrey
Murphy, Mike
Rwakazooba, Ezra
Zane, Giulia
author_facet Hoffmann, Vivian
Murphy, Mike
Rwakazooba, Ezra
Angebault, Charles
Kagezi, Godfrey
Zane, Giulia
author_sort Hoffmann, Vivian
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Measuring yield accurately is critical for evaluating the impact of interventions that aim to increase agricultural productivity but presents challenges in the case of coffee due to the long harvest period. An allometric approach, in which the fruits on randomly selected branches and clusters are counted is widely used due to its non-destructive nature and acceptability to farmers. However, this approach requires careful attention to detail, which may be difficult to maintain in the context of large-scale data collection efforts. Using data from 199 small-scale Robusta coffee farms in Uganda, we compare yield estimates obtained through a standard allometric protocol against those from a one-time harvest of both ripe and unripe cherries prior to the start of the harvest season. The one-time harvest method was widely acceptable to farmers. Allometric yield estimates explain just under half of the variation in the harvest-based yield measure. While estimated yield is similar across methods for the first tree harvested per farm, we observe a larger difference in allometric versus harvest-based estimates, and systematically lower counts of stems and branches for trees assessed later during the farm visit. We interpret these findings as evidence of deteriorating enumerator performance on the allometric method over time, implying a risk of downward-biased yield estimates.
format Artículo preliminar
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institution CGIAR Consortium
language Inglés
publishDate 2021
publishDateRange 2021
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publisherStr International Food Policy Research Institute
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spelling CGSpace1434412025-12-02T21:03:24Z Enumerator bias in yield measurement: A comparison of harvest versus allometric measurement of coffee yields Hoffmann, Vivian Murphy, Mike Rwakazooba, Ezra Angebault, Charles Kagezi, Godfrey Zane, Giulia methods agricultural extension training measurement yield components agriculture allometry yields coffee enumeration impact assessment Measuring yield accurately is critical for evaluating the impact of interventions that aim to increase agricultural productivity but presents challenges in the case of coffee due to the long harvest period. An allometric approach, in which the fruits on randomly selected branches and clusters are counted is widely used due to its non-destructive nature and acceptability to farmers. However, this approach requires careful attention to detail, which may be difficult to maintain in the context of large-scale data collection efforts. Using data from 199 small-scale Robusta coffee farms in Uganda, we compare yield estimates obtained through a standard allometric protocol against those from a one-time harvest of both ripe and unripe cherries prior to the start of the harvest season. The one-time harvest method was widely acceptable to farmers. Allometric yield estimates explain just under half of the variation in the harvest-based yield measure. While estimated yield is similar across methods for the first tree harvested per farm, we observe a larger difference in allometric versus harvest-based estimates, and systematically lower counts of stems and branches for trees assessed later during the farm visit. We interpret these findings as evidence of deteriorating enumerator performance on the allometric method over time, implying a risk of downward-biased yield estimates. 2021-12-03 2024-05-22T12:14:10Z 2024-05-22T12:14:10Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/143441 en https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.133570 https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.134836 https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.134408 Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Hoffmann, Vivian; Murphy, Mike; Rwakazooba, Ezra; Angebault, Charles; Kagezi, Godfrey; and Zane, Giulia. 2021. Enumerator bias in yield measurement: A comparison of harvest versus allometric measurement of coffee yields. IFPRI Discussion Paper 2065. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.134844.
spellingShingle methods
agricultural extension
training
measurement
yield components
agriculture
allometry
yields
coffee
enumeration
impact assessment
Hoffmann, Vivian
Murphy, Mike
Rwakazooba, Ezra
Angebault, Charles
Kagezi, Godfrey
Zane, Giulia
Enumerator bias in yield measurement: A comparison of harvest versus allometric measurement of coffee yields
title Enumerator bias in yield measurement: A comparison of harvest versus allometric measurement of coffee yields
title_full Enumerator bias in yield measurement: A comparison of harvest versus allometric measurement of coffee yields
title_fullStr Enumerator bias in yield measurement: A comparison of harvest versus allometric measurement of coffee yields
title_full_unstemmed Enumerator bias in yield measurement: A comparison of harvest versus allometric measurement of coffee yields
title_short Enumerator bias in yield measurement: A comparison of harvest versus allometric measurement of coffee yields
title_sort enumerator bias in yield measurement a comparison of harvest versus allometric measurement of coffee yields
topic methods
agricultural extension
training
measurement
yield components
agriculture
allometry
yields
coffee
enumeration
impact assessment
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/143441
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