Good decisions in agriculture depend on good data: who is farming, what they grow, what they need and where support should go. In 2021, ACTS delivered an agricultural data collection project across 10 states for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In 2022, we followed it with a dashboard for project management for UNDP.
Why data collection at this scale is hard
Collecting data in one location is straightforward. Collecting it consistently across ten states is a different task. Teams work in different conditions, connectivity varies from place to place, and the data has to arrive in a form that can be compared and analysed. Every step, from the questionnaire to the final report, has to be planned with that in mind.
What a project like this involves
- Designing the tools: clear questionnaires and digital forms that enumerators can use reliably in the field.
- Preparing field teams: making sure everyone collects data the same way, so results from different states can be compared.
- Working with limited connectivity: tools that can capture data offline and sync when a connection is available.
- Checking quality: reviewing incoming data so errors are caught early, not after the field work ends.
- Turning data into insight: analysis and reporting that decision makers can act on.
From data to dashboards
Data is most useful when people can see it. The project management dashboard we developed for UNDP in 2022 is an example of the next step: bringing information together in one place so programme teams can track progress and spot problems quickly.
How it connects to our wider work
Data collection and analysis is one of the core services of our Research and Consultancy team, alongside market research, value chain analysis, needs assessments, baseline studies, social impact assessments and policy research. The same approach also shaped Mahsool, our agritech platform, which was built after interviewing and collecting data from more than 300 farmers, traders and service providers.
On the technology side, our agritech solutions add satellite-based field monitoring, including vegetation indices such as NDVI and NDRE, soil moisture data, crop growth stages and weather data with an archive going back to 2008.
Need reliable data for your programme?
Whether you need a baseline study, a multi-state survey or a dashboard for your team, our Research and Consultancy services can help. Contact us to discuss your project.