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Cited by 1,098Agricultural Science and FertilizationClimate change impacts on agricultureAgricultural Innovations and Practices

When yield gaps are poverty traps: the paradigm of ecological intensification in African smallholder agriculture

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Tittonell, Pablo, Giller, Ken E.·2013·Field Crops Research
DOI 10.1016/j.fcr.2012.10.007
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Abstract

Yield gaps are pervasive in African smallholder agriculture, and are large for almost all crops in all regions. There is consensus that poor soil fertility and nutrient availability are the major biophysical limitations to agricultural production in the continent. We identify two major yield gaps: (1) the gap between actual yields (YA) and the water-limited yield potential (Yw), which is the maximum yield achievable under rainfed conditions without irrigation if soil water capture and storage is optimal and nutrient constraints are released, and (2) The gap between YA, and a locally attainable yield (YL) which corresponds to the water and nutrient-limited yields that can be measured in the most productive fields of resource endowed farmers in a community. Estimates of these two yield gaps are given for major crops, together with a framework for how yield gaps can be estimated in a pragmatic way for different farming systems. The paradigm of ecological intensification which focuses on yield potential, soil quality and precision agriculture is explored for the African context. Our analysis suggests that smallholder farmers are unable to benefit from the current yield gains offered by plant genetic improvement. In particular, continued cropping without sufficient inputs of nutrients and organic matter leads to localised but extensive soil degradation and renders many soils in a non-responsive state. The lack of immediate response to increased inputs of fertiliser and labour in s…

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  • The benefits of agroecology often emerge through the interaction of practices rather than their singular application, with recycling and diversification contributing to resource-use efficiency, resilience, and ecosystem services.

    “Previous studies have highlighted that the benefits of agroecology often emerge through the interaction of practices rather than their singular application, with recycling and diversification contributing to resource-use efficiency, resilience, and ecosystem services (Altieri and Nicholls, 2020;Tittonell and Giller, 2013).”

    From Agroecology for sustainable development: evidence on multidimensional performance from a cross-country TAPE assessment in Africa (2025) · cites this paper as Tittonell and Giller, 2013

  • Agroecological intensification is often linked with increased input expenses, particularly within resource-limited contexts such as the study sites.

    “As Tittonell and Giller (2013) notes, agroecological intensification is often linked with increased input expenses particularly within the resource-limited contexts such in the study sites.”

    From Agroecology for sustainable development: evidence on multidimensional performance from a cross-country TAPE assessment in Africa (2025) · cites this paper as Tittonell and Giller, 2013

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Authors
Tittonell, P., & Giller, K. E.
Affiliations
Wageningen University & Research (NL)
Corresponding author
Tittonell, Pablo
ORCID
Venue
Field Crops Research
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2013-03
Volume
143
Pages
76-90
ISSN
0378-4290 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.fcr.2012.10.007
OpenAlex
W2163120086
Cited by
1,098
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 112 · 2025: 75 · 2024: 71 · 2023: 80 · 2022: 68 · 2021: 113 · 2020: 104 · 2019: 96 · 2018: 105 · 2017: 85 · 2016: 59 · 2015: 55 · 2014: 54 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 1
FWCI
62.83
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Field Crops Research (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Socio-Environmental Systems Modeling (acceptedVersion)
  • Agritrop (Cirad) (submittedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
European Union
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Agricultural Science and Fertilization
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Climate change impacts on agriculture
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › General Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agricultural Innovations and Practices
Keywords
yield gap, ecological intensification, smallholder farming, poverty trap, soil fertility, soil degradation, nutrient limitation, precision agriculture, soil quality, fertilizer response, food insecurity, African agriculture

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