Enhancing Agricultural Productivity through Yield Estimation Initiatives in Partnership with the Farm-to-Market Alliance

ACRE Africa and the Farm to Market Alliance in Kenya partnered on yield estimation through crop cut exercises over three continuous seasons: Short Rains 2022, Long Rains 2023, and Short Rains 2023. We jointly conducted over 1,500 crop cuts in 13 counties during this period, targeting maize, sorghum, Irish potatoes, and beans value chains. Over 250 farmers, farmer leaders, and Farmer Service Centers were trained on the process and benefits of yield estimation. Over 70 County Agricultural Ward officers were also trained to build their capacity in the last season.

Through this initiative, we have significantly built the capacity of local communities to estimate yields accurately and adopt Climate Smart Agriculture practices. The mapping of agroecological zones (AEZ) and geo-mapping of farms have provided invaluable insights, allowing for tailored advisories and continuous performance monitoring.

Identifying specific agroecological zones has enabled the recommendation of the most suitable crops and farming practices for each region, optimizing productivity and sustainability. These efforts have demonstrated accountability and transparency in reporting productivity changes, assessed the economic viability of various crops, and identified key challenges faced by smallholder farmers.

PS: Crop cuts is A Crop Cutting Experiment (CCE) technique used in agricultural surveys to estimate the yield of crops in a particular area. It involves physically measuring and counting crops in a sample area to obtain an estimate of the total yield for the entire field.

2022/2023 Analysis

Season	CCEs	Value chains	counties
SR 2022	258	3 (Maize, Sorghum & Irish Potatoes)	5
LR 2023	682	4 (Maize, Sorghum, Irish Potatoes and beans)	13
SR 2023	636	4 (Maize, Sorghum, Irish Potatoes and beans)	13

The impact of the partnership includes:

Mapping of agroecological zones (AEZs)	Mapping of agroecological zones (AEZs) in the counties where FtMA operates has enabled the programme to offer tailored advice to smallholder farmers on the suitability of specific value chains for each location.
Geo-mapping of the smallholder farmers’ farms	Geo-mapping of the smallholder farmers’ farms allows us to continuously monitor their performance.
Demonstrate accountability	Demonstrate accountability by continuously estimating and reporting productivity changes among supported farmers.
Assess productivity (yield)	Assess productivity (yield) changes for smallholder farmers adopting recommended Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices.
Conduct a cost-benefit analysis of production	Conduct a cost-benefit analysis of production by mapping production costs against achieved revenues.
Build youth and local leaders’ capacity	Build youth and local leaders’ capacity through Crop Cuts training as a source of employment.
Identify perils and their impact	Identify perils and their impact on smallholder farmers’ productivity within the season.

Why Invest in Yield Estimation?

• Yield data is the lifeblood of agricultural insurance. It helps to assess risks, design insurance products, and calculate payouts. By understanding historical and regional yield patterns, insurers can create a financial safety net for farmers, enabling them to bounce back from losses.
• Data on production, Agroecological Zone area, and yield are used to design effective development programs for agriculture. This can include initiatives to improve crop yields, farm management practices, and resource allocation.
• By analysing crop production data by factors like fertilizer use, irrigation methods, and seed types, players in the agriculture industry can identify areas for improvement and recommend best practices to farmers.
• Crop production data is crucial for governments and planners to make informed decisions about agriculture. This includes setting crop diversity goals, allocating resources, and establishing import/export policies.

Who benefits from yield data?​

Yield estimation data is crucial not only for farmers but also for insurers, policymakers, researchers, and government planners. It forms one of the backbones that inform agricultural insurance, helps in designing effective development programs, and informs strategic decisions in the agriculture sector.

As we move forward, the ongoing crop cuts exercise in the Long Rains 2024 will continue to build on this foundation, further empowering farmers and strengthening the agricultural landscape in Africa.

This collaborative approach underscores the importance of partnerships in driving sustainable agricultural development and highlights the benefits that accurate yield estimation brings to all stakeholders involved.