FAO and CORAF Discuss Innovative Agricultural Data Collection Approaches in Accra.

Accra: Agricultural research experts and stakeholders from across Africa convened in Accra on Monday to explore new strategies for collecting data aimed at enhancing national agricultural research systems. The three-day Agricultural Sciences and Technology Indicators (ASTI) Regional Workshop, scheduled to conclude on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, is part of an initiative by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and its regional partners to promote awareness of ASTI and support the long-term integration of data collection instruments by countries.According to Ghana News Agency, the ASTI programme provides open-source data on agricultural research systems in developing countries. This data is crucial for policymakers, research managers, donor organisations, and other stakeholders to evaluate the impact and performance of agricultural research, set investment and policy priorities, and encourage the recruitment and promotion of women in the agricultural research sector.Over the course of the workshop, participants from 17 national agricultural research institutions across Africa will deliberate and establish a work plan for implementing ASTI data collection in their respective countries. This includes planning a series of in-country data collection activities. Mr. Hernán Daniel Muñoz, ASTI Project Leader at FAO, emphasized the workshop's role in providing technical insights into the ASTI methodology and introducing new approaches to the stakeholders.Mr. Muñoz highlighted the importance of tailoring data collection models to each country's unique settings, as previous data collection efforts have not followed a standardized approach. The goal is to develop national plans that align with each country's institutional settings, capacity, and the relevance of agricultural sector research.Dr. Emmanuel Njukwe, Director of Research and Innovation at the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF), stated that the workshop's outcomes would inform agricultural information p olicy to guide planning. He also noted the complexity of data collection in the region due to the involvement of various ministries and agencies, which complicates the institutionalization of specific research models.Dr. Wilhemina Quaye, Director at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research - Science and Technology Policy Research Institute, expressed confidence that the workshop discussions would enhance efficient data collection and distribution to stakeholders in the agriculture value chain. The Council is actively collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture to provide farmers with relevant data to improve productivity.