2026-03-08T07:58:52Z https://jircas.repo.nii.ac.jp/oai

oai:jircas.repo.nii.ac.jp:02000784 2025-04-07T05:22:21Z 1698892316070:1740979333402

5-1. Feasibility of data collection using farm-based recordkeeping in sub-Saharan Africa Koide, Junji 0000-0003-1726-4400 Yamada, Ryuichi Yokoyama, Shigeki While various methodologies have been proposed to address existing flaws in agricultural surveys, enhancing data accuracy, timeliness, and informativeness remains a significant challenge, particularly within smallholder farming systems. To explore a viable solution, this study examined the feasibility of farm-based recordkeeping, which had previously received minimal attention, through participatory field trials conducted across various African smallholder farming communities. Despite most trial participants being illiterate, most could maintain continuous records, likely due to the adoption of simplified recording formats, meticulous explanations and training for transcribers, and mutual encouragement and assistance among participants. Moreover, through their trial experiences, they discovered diverse benefits of recordkeeping, including facilitating comprehensive farm management reviews and planning for the next season. However, the trial results also highlighted practical challenges, such as limited self-administration and data recording coverage, which were not solely attributable to illiteracy. While advanced digital technologies like smartphones facilitate farm-based recordkeeping, a demand-driven approach that leverages the motivation and retention of recordkeepers is necessary to ensure the autonomous and comprehensive administration of records. Such an approach may include enhancing the functionality of the recording system so that it contributes not only to the collection of quality data but also to farmers’ beneficial learning and decision support using the collected data. Continuous interaction between agricultural researchers, extensionists, and farmers through informative analyses of the recorded data and subsequent feedback may also facilitate the widespread adoption of farm recordkeeping. Chapter 5: Facilitation of model application and decision supports to African smallholder farmers book part Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences 2025-03-28 VoR application/pdf JIRCAS Working Report : Application of farm management models for decision support to smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa 94 107 122 https://jircas.repo.nii.ac.jp/record/2000784/files/jircas_working_report94-_107-122.pdf 1341-710X AA11159468 https://doi.org/10.34556/0002000784 https://jircas.repo.nii.ac.jp/records/2000784 eng Application of farm management models for decision support to smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa https://doi.org/10.34556/0002000771 open access