Addressing the Yield Gap in Asia.

Improving yields for smallholder farmers in Asia is critical for increasing agricultural productivity and to raise the standard of living in rural areas. To achieve this increase we must understand the key constraints in the production system stopping farmers from achieving the genetic potential of their crops. This project analyzed Maize yields from 600 locations across the Philippines spread between the two major growing areas in Luzon and Mindanao. Through analysis of the differences in inputs between smallholder farmer’s commercial production, using traditional local growing techniques, and Monsanto technical trials where fertilizer, weed control and other inputs were optimized, the factors driving the yield gap were determined. Yield gaps of between 14 and 43% between the 2 agronomic approaches were observed in different growing environments. The yield gaps were associated with relatively simple agronomic practices across all regions including seed bed quality, timing of fertilization and level of weed control. This work shows that targeted basic agronomic solutions, applied at the correct timing, can provide substantial yield gains for smallholder growers in Asia without the need to change the overall farming system. Implementing these changes through modification of farmer practices requires understanding of why farmers are not optimizing crop inputs, if it is an education gap or if there is a fundamental production or economic reason that improved techniques are not being implemented.