Data Collection Methodology
1. A sample of 15 households, representative of households in the study area in family size, cropping pattern, farm implement ownership and livestock holding was selected for detailed monitoring in the 1987/88 cropping season. Data were collected by interviews, measurements and observations from January 1987 to February 1988. Information on agricultural activities including total cropped area, types of crops grown, agronomic practices, harvested yields, crop sales and on-farm consumption was collected. Data on family size and composition, labour availability and use in various farm and non-farm activities were also collected. Livestock data collected included stock holdings and their composition as well as the herd dynamics (births, deaths, purchases, gifts, slaughters and live sales). Information on off-farm activities such as constructions, trade, handicrafts (mat-making, basket weaving, etc.), fruit gathering and remittances were also collected.2. The analysis was carried out in two steps. First, the value of crop harvests (sales and on-farm consumption) less the costs of all inputs used was computed. A similar analysis was done for livestock production. The contributions of crop and livestock production in the total value of farm production were then estimated. In the second step, only cash incomes were considered. The cash value of crop and livestock transactions as well as earnings from non-farm activities were computed and the relative contributions to the farmer's total cash income determined.
3. Supplementary information was collected on the volumes and numbers of agricultural and livestock products sold, the periods of and principal motivations for their sale and actual uses to which the cash incomes from the various sources were put. Similar information on purchases of agricultural and livestock products was collected. The information on sales and purchases and the periodicity of the transactions was used to describe the income transfer mechanisms across sectors in the rural economy.
