AbstractSome of the farm-level factors that are crucial for intensified food crop production in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is discussed. The current trends and indicators of intensification, including yield, total production per farm and consumption unit and sale of crops are also discussed, based on the four major staples (maize, cassava, sorghum and rice) in areas thought of as having a potential for increased production, viz. Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Discussions on the nature of household income composition and the importance of other types of household incomes, especially those stemming from non-farm or off-farm sources are also presented.