Farmer rating of crop residue production may be possible even in contexts where farmers are unable to estimate the quantities produced. Farmers’ ratings are more likely to have accurate information where residues are actively used, such as for fodder or fuel. The methods for carrying out and analyzing the ratings are described in the Crop Residue  Productivity Indicator section.

Crop residue productivity is a measure of the ‘non-grain’ biomass from plant production on a known area, which is also the difference between Net Primary Productivity and yield.