Analysing yield trends in the South African sugar industry

M.R. Jones and A. Singels

Agricultural Systems, 2015, vol. 141, issue C, 24-35

Abstract: A perception exists in the South African (SA) sugar industry that sugarcane yields are declining. The objective of this study was to quantify yield decline in the SA sugar industry to inform future research and extension efforts to decrease yield gaps. Regional trends in cane yield were calculated from mill-level cane delivery and harvest area data. Benchmark simulated yields for each region were estimated by the Canesim Crop Forecasting System, using inferred harvest age and observed weather data. Actual yields were annualised to remove harvest age effects and then expressed as fractions of corresponding simulated yields, in order to remove effects of inter-seasonal variations in weather. Trends in this yield ratio (YR) were calculated for several regions and grower categories. Yield decline was defined as a decreasing trend in YR over time (1981–2010).

Keywords: Yield gap; Yield decline; Crop model; Cane yield; Weather data; Harvest age; Production data (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:agisys:v:141:y:2015:i:c:p:24-35

DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2015.09.004

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