Farm investment decisions are often guided by assumptions rather than evidence, especially in contexts where data are limited or unreliable.
Using Evidence, Not Assumptions, to Evaluate Farm Investments
Agricultural “best practices” are typically developed under controlled research station conditions and promoted as universally applicable solutions. These practices often
Why “Best Practices” Often Fail Outside Research Stations
Crop diversification is widely promoted as a strategy to improve resilience, stabilize yields, and enhance farm sustainability. By growing multiple
Crop Diversification: Evidence, Trade-Offs, and Practical Limits
Yield gaps are commonly used to describe the difference between actual farm yields and the yields considered achievable under optimal
Understanding Yield Gaps: Are Farmers Underperforming or Are Systems Constrained?
Input-intensive farming systems are often promoted as a pathway to rapid productivity gains, particularly through increased use of improved seeds,
The Limits of Input-Intensive Farming in Low-Resource Systems
Efforts to increase crop yields often focus on introducing improved seeds, fertilizers, irrigation, or mechanization. These interventions are frequently promoted
Why Many Yield Interventions Fail When Soil Constraints Are Ignored
Climate extremes such as droughts, heat waves, and intense rainfall events are becoming more frequent in many agricultural regions. These
Can Improved Soil Management Buffer Crops Against Climate Extremes?
Soil degradation is often discussed primarily in terms of declining crop yields, but its true cost to farmers extends far
What Soil Degradation Really Costs Farmers (Beyond Yield Loss)
Climate change is often presented as the defining challenge for agriculture in the twenty-first century. Rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns,
Why Climate Variability Is a Bigger Risk Than Climate Change for Smallholder Farmers
For many Nigerian farmers, climate change is no longer a distant scientific concept but a harsh reality felt on their
Is Climate Change Already Affecting Nigerian Farmers?
