Agricultural Productivity Indicators Measurement Guide

This guide discusses Title II indicators identified for agricultural productivity-related activities. These are:

1. harvested crop yields per hectare; gap between actual and potential yields;

2. yield variability under varying conditions;

3. value of crop production per household;

4. months of household food provisions;

5. percent of crop losses during storage;

6. number of hectares with improved practices; and

7. number of crop storage facilities built and used.

Chapter 2 explores the many issues and concerns that arise regarding the measurement and interpretation of the six agricultural impact indicators. These are considered impact indicators, as opposed number seven and eight, which are monitoring indicators and which are relatively straightforward to measure. This chapter is intended in part to help practitioners avoid pitfalls in measuring these indicators that may lead to misinterpretations of the resulting data. It also lays a basis for the recommended methods in the proposed data collection plan.

Chapter 3 provides the overall data collection plan and specific methods for collecting data for measuring the indicators. It also notes advantages and disadvantages of the approaches depending on the context, and six general principles to guide PVO personnel during collection. These principles, explained in the text, are:

1. be consistent

2. document methods thoroughly

3. account for exogenous factors affecting outcomes

4. build trust with farmers

5. integrate monitoring and evaluation activities with implementation activities

6. train and supervise enumerators thoroughly

The plan is divided into four groups of activities based on their timing: a post-planting farmer visit, monthly data collection, harvest of demonstration plots, and a post-harvest farmer visit.

Chapter 4 explains how to calculate the six generic agricultural productivity performance indicators listed at the beginning of this summary.

Download Guide [147 kb]