Integration of resources, management, and technology: closing the maize yield gap for food security in Ethiopia

Ethiopia has a wealth of natural resources that enable it to produce enough maize and export it. But, a large percentage of people are food insecure. Ethiopia needs to address problems with how it gains opportunitiesand overcomes barriers. This research aims to examine the maize yield gap through the use of technology, resources, and management for the purpose of closing it. The data from western Ethiopian regions covering the 16 years from 2007 to 2022 are included in this panel dataset. The maize yield gap is estimated via the time-invariant stochastic frontier. On the basis of these results, the potential yield, highest farmer yield, technical efficiency yield, and actual yield of the western Ethiopian region were 12, 6.18, 4.72, and 3.58 t/ha, respectively. The yield gaps for efficiency, resources, and technology are 1.14, 2.15, and 5.13 t/ha, respectively. We recommended free taxes and subsidized imports of inputs. The use of multiple agricultural technologies instead of one is recommended. We suggest implementing soil conservation strategies, intercropping maize with legumes, and cultivating maize with both organic and inorganic fertilizers. Farmers are advised to reduce the gap in yields of maize by selecting an appropriate amount of inputs and improving their operational management skills.