When yield gaps are poverty traps: The paradigm of ecological intensification in African smallholder agriculture

► Yield gaps are pervasive in African agriculture, and are large for almost all crops in all regions. ► Poor soil fertility is the major biophysical limitation to agricultural production in the continent. ► Smallholder farmers are unable to benefit from current yield gains offered by genetic improvement. ► Lack of response to inputs of fertiliser and labour in degraded soils constitutes a chronic poverty trap. ► A framework for yield gap assessment in Africa smallholder agriculture is proposed.