Agricultural production potentials Part II: Development support policies and strategies— from yield gaps to opportunity gaps

Abstract

In Part I the conclusions were drawn that the potential of a certain area for agricultural production is, to a certain degree, the result of investments in technology development; that historic and economic factors have led to a comparative disadvantage of agricultural systems in the developing countries; and that the collective agricultural production potentials of the developing countries have not been assessed properly. As a result of differences in investments for technology development, differences in development opportunities have emerged.

This part explores some important aspects of development intervention strategies, looks at the national agricultural policies of developing countries as well as of international development agencies and presents the concept opportunity gaps as an alternative to the frequently used concept of yield gaps. Some approaches to agricultural development that may contribute to bridging the opportunity gaps are discussed: the systems approach; the use of indigenous knowledge; development of agro-ecological practices and the bottom-up approach. Included is a checklist for the analysis of opportunity gaps that could be used by planners of development interventions who want to narrow these gaps.