The issues
CLosinG yieLD Gaps
Yield gaps exist mainly because known
technologies that can be applied at a
local experiment station are not applied
in farmers’ fields having the same natural
resource and ecological characteristics.
One main reason why yield gaps exist
is that farmers do not have sufficient
economic incentives to adopt yield
enhancing seeds or cropping techniques.
This may be explained by numerous factors,
including lack of access to information,
extension services and technical skills.
Poor infrastructure, weak institutions and
unfavourable farm policies can also create
huge obstacles to the adoption of improved