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Comparing LSMS Crop Yield Estimates

EPAR TECHNICAL REPORT #336

Fri, 03/04/2016

AUTHORS: Katie Panhorst Harris; Margaret Beetstra; Melissa Greenaway; Melissa Lafayette; Pierre Biscaye

ABSTRACT: 

Common estimates of agricultural productivity rely upon crude measures of crop yield, typically defined as the weight harvested of a crop divided by the area harvested. But this common yield measure poorly reflects performance among farm systems combining multiple crops in one area (e.g., intercropping), and also ignores the possibility that farmers might lose crop area between planting and harvest (e.g., partial crop failure). Drawing on detailed plot-level data from the LSMS-ISA in Tanzania, Nigeria, and Ethiopia, we show how various yield measurement decisions affect estimates of smallholder yields for a variety of crops. We consider the effect of measuring production by plot area, area planted, and area harvested, of trimming the top 1% and 2% of values, and of considering different groups of farmers according to total area planted. 

This analysis resulted in the preparation of a spreadsheet of yield estimates, which will contribute to future analysis of the effect of measurement decisions on estimates of agricultural productivity.

TYPE OF RESEARCH: Data Analysis

RESEARCH TOPIC CATEGORY: Sustainable Agriculture & Rural Livelihoods; Agricultural Productivity, Yield, & Constraints

GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS: Sub-Saharan Africa

DATASET(S): LSMS & LSMS-ISA

Downloadable Documents

Yield Estimates Results Coding