Farm data

Farm management decisions are underpinned by good information. To make good decisions, farmers need information from different sources. Farmers require timely and appropriate information at every stage in the farm management decision-making process. Information is needed to diagnose the farm, to set objectives, to plan, implement and control farm activities, and to make more efficient use of their limited resources. Information can have a direct impact on improved farm management providing extension workers and farmers with information on what, how and when products are produced, and what type and quantity of inputs should be used.

Farm Data Systems: cases from Asia and Africa

The document aims to support the development of a sustainable country-based data and decision-support system for generating and utilizing disaggregated farm and household information. Development of such a system will contribute to designing and monitoring interventions in support of small farm development, market-driven production systems, poverty eradication and food security. Moreover, the document aims to serve as a basis for comparative assessment, priority setting and design for capacity building with the common goal of meeting food security needs, sustainable development and facing the challenges brought about by the globalization of markets.

Click here to download the document

Farm data systems in Africa: a synthesis

The objective of the study was to review the status of farm data systems in respect to the support of farm management decision-making. The results of the study were presented at a workshop on “Local Level Sustainable Information Systems to Fight Hunger and Poverty”.

Farm and community information use for agricultural programmes and policies 1994 (E)

The objective of this publication is to develop a better understanding of how to improve agricultural policy and programme analysis using micro-level information and analyses. The topics covered in the publication include micro/level analytical methods to diagnose policy problems and assess alternatives, better supply of relevant and useful farm-household and rural community information and strengthening institutional arrangements.

Copies may be requested by e-mail

Ags-Registry@fao.org

Methods of micro level analysis for agricultural programmes and policies 1994 (E)

This is the companion publication to "Farm and community information use for agricultural programmes and polices" which examined the role of farm and village data and analyses in the various stages of the policy cycle. This publication represents the second series. Agricultural policy analysts require better ways of tailoring and targeting policy instruments and agricultural programmes to the actual circumstances of farm-households and rural communities. The overall objective of this document is to improve agricultural polices and programmes though the better use of micro-level analytical methods. Common methods are compared and contrasted for the benefit of those who manage agricultural policy analysis in developing countries

Copies may be requested by e-mail

Ags-Registry@fao.org

Smallholders, Globalization and Policy Analysis

Unfortunately little information is available for policy makers on the impacts of globalization on smallholders and almost none of these impacts differentiated by farming systems and level of market access. In this merit a working session was organized in June 2003 by the FAO AGS and ESA Divisions in FAO in Rome, with the support of the World Bank. The resulting Occasional paper, based on presentations and discussions held during the working session, presents a framework for the analysis of small holder and village responses to globalization and considers some analytical approaches that can be used. The paper also examines some illustrative field experience from Africa before considering policy options, in the particular context of Ghana.

Click here to download the publication  

Farm data information systems

A review was conducted of farm data information systems to help generate a sustainable country level data base and decision support system for developing and utilizing farm and household information in planning, monitoring and evaluating agricultural development programs. Case studies were conducted in Uganda, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Swaziland and Tanzania.

The farm data information system is also used to address food security, poverty alleviation, small farm development and gender issues. Farm data systems provide essential information on farm production, gross margins, requirements of land, labour, capital, including seasonal labour requirements of inputs such as fertilizers, manure, pesticides etc. and net farm income. The farm data system also helps extension personnel, farmers, planners and research workers in developing enterprise / crop budgets, farm plan, input-output coefficients, production elasticity and estimation of production functions to help the farmers in better decision making.

Bridging the rural knowledge gap: Information systems for improved livelihoods

The role of better information in improving the livelihoods of farm households and small-scale rural entrepreneurs is now increasingly being recognized by those engaged in rural development. However, few development resources are directed towards strengthening local flows of information to improve management decision-making by farmers, traders, artisans and other local entrepreneurs.

Based on the vision of "better management through improved information", this document emphasises the role of information in improving the livelihoods of farm households and small-scale rural entrepreneurs, increasingly being recognized by those engaged in rural development. This document brings together, for development professionals in universities and development programmes, a variety of development experiences in this field in order to identify lessons for rural development programmes. Only if rural communities are provided with more timely and better quality information and the skills to use it to their advantage, will they be able to improve their livelihoods.