Yield gap analysis and entry points for improving productivity on large oil palm plantations and smallholder farms in Ghana

Rhebergen, T and Fairhurst, T and Whitbread, A M and Giller, K E and Zingore, S (2018) Yield gap analysis and entry points for improving productivity on large oil palm plantations and smallholder farms in Ghana. Agricultural Systems (TSI), 165. pp. 14-25. ISSN 0308521X

PDF - Published Version Restricted to ICRISAT users only Download (1MB) | Request a copy

Abstract

Oil palm production must increase in Ghana to meet the increasing demand for palm oil and avoid costly imports. Although maximum fruit bunch (FB) yields of >20 t ha−1 yr−1 are achievable, average FB yields in Ghana are only 7 t ha−1 yr−1. Despite the pressing need to increase palm oil production and improve yields, knowledge of the underlying causes of poor yields in Ghana is lacking. Closing yield gaps in existing plantings in smallholdings and plantations offers great opportunities to increase oil production without area expansion, thus sparing land for other uses. This study sought to understand the magnitude and underlying causes of yield gaps in plantation and smallholder oil palm production systems in Ghana based on a detailed characterization of management practices and yield measurements over a two-year period. Using a boundary line analysis, the water-limited yield (Yw) over a planting cycle was defined as about 21 t ha−1 yr−1 FB, with yield gaps of 15.4 t ha−1 yr−1 FB at smallholder farms and 9.8 t ha−1 yr−1 FB at plantations. Poor management practices, including incomplete crop recovery (i.e., harvesting all suitable crop) and inadequate agronomic management were the main factors contributing to these yield gaps. Productivity losses were further exacerbated by low oil extraction rates by small-scale processors of 12% as compared to 21% by the large-scale processors. The potential losses in annual crude palm oil (CPO) during the crop plateau yield phase therefore exceed 5 and 3 t ha−1 yr−1 for small-scale and large-scale production systems respectively. Investment to reduce yield gaps by appropriate agronomic and yield recovery practices across all production systems, while improving access of smallholder producers to more efficient oil palm processing facilities, can make a significant contribution to closing the supply gap for palm oil in Ghana. The impact of such investments on large-scale plantations could result in a doubling of CPO production. Smallholder farmers could benefit the most with a fourteen-fold increase in CPO production and economic gains of >1 billion US$.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	Research Program : Innovation Systems for the Drylands (ISD)
CRP:	CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Yield gap analysis; Crop recovery; Boundary line analysis; Sustainable intensification; Oil extraction rates
Subjects:	Others
Depositing User:	Mr Ramesh K
Date Deposited:	28 May 2018 03:33
Last Modified:	28 May 2018 03:33
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/10683
Official URL:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2018.05.012
Projects:	UNSPECIFIED
Funders:	UNSPECIFIED
Acknowledgement:	We thank the management and staff of Benso Oil Palm Plantation (BOPP), Norpalm Ghana Ltd., Twifo Oil Palm Plantation (TOPP) and Solidaridad West Africa for their support and the provision of data. We also thank Chris Donough, Munir Hoffmann, Thomas Oberthür, Godfrey Taulya, Rob Verdooren, Na Wang, and the Oil Palm Research Institute (OPRI). This work was supported by Canpotex International Pte Limited and K+S Kali GmbH (GBL-53). The contribution of A. Whitbread was supported by the CGIAR research program Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE).
Links:

View Statistics

Actions (login required)

View Item