Involving ICT in Cashew Production ENG

INVOLVING ICT IN THE CASHEW INDUSTRY(CASHEW GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS

(GIS) FARM MAPPING& WEBSITE)

Philip BoahenAgric. EconomistCashew Development Project(MOFA-AfDB)Email: [email protected]

What is GIS?

� A system that allows one to geo-reference ---that is to relate data to its geographical location.

� It is based on a database of attributes and layers of maps that can be “queried” to display intersections of the data and linked/traced to features and objects such as farms, warehouses, road network etc.

GIS Principles

A system of hardware, software, data people, organizations and institutional arrangements for collecting, storing, analyzing and disseminating information about areas of the earth

Software producers

Data producers

SoftwareGeographical Information Database

GIS Products:Maps, etc…

Users

GIS Functional Modules

Database

Querying and Analysis

Output and Visualizations

Data Input

The Heart of GIS is a well designed Database

Why is GIS Important?

� GIS integrates spatial and other kinds of information within a single system – offers consistent framework for analyzing data

� Makes connection between activities based on geographic proximity

� Offers means of analyzing data revealing trends, patterns, inter-relationships, etc.

Lake Volta, Afram arm : A view through time

10 km

1972 1985 2000

Source: EPA/USGS, 2005

What is GIS Database?

� Perimeter (GPS coordinates)

� Series of polygons (plot, block, lot, farm)

� Attributes (legend)� Map can be linked to

an existing data base

� Tables containing fields such as:

� Farm Information

� Farm ManagementPractices

� Soil Information� Agro-Input

Applications� Harvesting Statistics

GIS MAP(ArcGIS)

ACCESS DATABASECodes (farm, plot)

GIS Database Outputs

GIS MAP ACCESS DATABASECodes (farm, plot)

MAP TABLE

Output

Current Work

� Cashew mapping is a collaborative work between USAID-TIPCEE program and the Cashew Development Project

� Main inputs are:� ArcGIS software for processing and generation of

maps� GPS handsets� Downloading software (GPS Trackmarker or GPS

Utility)

Methodology � Agricultural extension

officers were trained to collect GPS coordinates at farm level

� Coordinates of farm perimeters or boundaries were taken using hand-held GPS

� The coordinates or waypoints are downloaded at the district level using GPS Trackmarker, and in some cases GPS Utility

Tracking Satellites to Record Waypoints

Recording Waypoints (LAT & LON)

Methodology – 1 � Processing of waypoints and attribute information using ArcGIS

software to generate shape files and relevant polygons depictingthe mapped segments

Cashew GIS Access Database

� Current database location is TIPCEE, but this is expected to be transferred to MOFA for the establishment of National Cashew Database

Id FarmerName Location District Age_Farm Region Acres Hectares1 Peter Gyan Nyamebekyere Jaman South 8 Brong Ahafo 5.36 2.17 2 Jenifer Kissiwaa Nyamebekyere Jaman South 4 Brong Ahafo 2.28 0.92 3 Anima Misaa Sebreni Jaman South 10 Brong Ahafo 1.14 0.46 4 Margaret Twenewaa Sebreni Jaman South 3 Brong Ahafo 1.34 0.54 5 Abenaa Gyenaa Sebeni Jaman South 3 Brong Ahafo 1.41 0.57 6 Emma Gyan Nyamebekyere Jaman South 6 Brong Ahafo 1.85 0.75 7 Perpetual Gyan Nyamebekyere Jaman South 1 Brong Ahafo 3.31 1.34 8 E. K. Affum Sebreni Jaman South 3 Brong Ahafo 1.95 0.79 9 Kwame Nyaw Sebreni Jaman South 12 Brong Ahafo 2.60 1.05

10 Augustine Badu Sebreni Jaman South 6 Brong Ahafo 2.52 1.02 11 Yaw Donkor Sebreni Jaman South 4 Brong Ahafo 0.37 0.15 12 Asum Michael Sebreni Jaman South 4 Brong Ahafo 0.45 0.18 13 Akosua Bronya Japekrom Jaman South 10 Brong Ahafo 0.72 0.29 14 Atta Adinkra Samuel Boawonua Jaman South 8 Brong Ahafo 5.76 2.33 15 Afia Adinkra Kwameseikrom Jaman South 6 Brong Ahafo 1.00 0.40 16 Kwabena Thomas Dodosuo Jaman South 5 Brong Ahafo 0.56 0.23 17 Kwaku Alhaji Dodosuo Jaman South 4 Brong Ahafo 0.25 0.10 18 Nana Gyina Benne Dodosuo Jaman South 4 Brong Ahafo 1.43 0.58 19 David Dabie Dodosuo Jaman South 6 Brong Ahafo 1.40 0.57 20 Grace Agyeiwaa Dodosuo Jaman South 8 Brong Ahafo 1.96 0.79 21 Noah Danso Soyaso Jaman South 6 Brong Ahafo 2.14 0.87 22 Augustine Apraku Soyaso Jaman South 10 Brong Ahafo 0.26 0.10 23 Yaa Theresah Baaso Jaman South 10 Brong Ahafo 1.42 0.57 24 Benjamin Takyi Drobo Jaman South 5 Brong Ahafo 1.65 0.67 25 Acheampong Kwasi Kofiko Jaman South 7 Brong Ahafo 4.03 1.63 26 Amma Asuaa Kofiko Jaman South 4 Brong Ahafo 1.51 0.61 27 Yaa Fekaa Kofiko Jaman South 4 Brong Ahafo 0.74 0.30 28 Ebenezer Dapaa Kofiko Jaman South 5 Brong Ahafo 1.31 0.53 29 Kofi Kra Kofiko Jaman South 6 Brong Ahafo 0.99 0.40 30 Kwadwo Antwi Kofiko Jaman South 6 Brong Ahafo 1.18 0.48

Cashew GIS Map

CoverageDISTRICTS COVERED SO

FAR

� Jaman South District� Jaman North District� Wenchi District� Tain District� Kintampo North

District� Kintampo South

Disrict� Bole + Sawla-Tuna-

Kalba District

Farms Covered

1,240 1,117 TOTAL

119 110 BOLE + STK

487 261 TAIN

128 110 WENCHI

147 179 KINTAMPO SOUTH

207 273 KINTAMPO NORTH

61 99 JAMAN SOUTH

91 85 JAMAN NORTH

TOTAL AREA (HA)NUMBER OF FARM SEGMENTS MAPPEDDISTRICT

Cashew GIS

Cashew Producing Districts

National Database

•MOFA

•MOTI

•CAPEAG

•OTHER BUYER

•ETC

CDP-TIPCEE ADRA

INT

ER

PH

AS

ES

PURCHASING AGENTS

WEBSITE

LOGISTICS PLANNING

CAPEAG

CASHEW PRODUCING DISTRICTS

US

ER

S

Confidentiality

Public-Private Threshold

TRACEABILITY

Applications

� Production planning & monitoring� Land use planning� Infrastructure planning

� Pack houses� Feeder roads� Irrigation requirements

Applications – contd.

� Logistics planning� Collection routes for cashew� Assembling Points

� Productivity monitoring� With soil factors, rainfall, etc.� Pest and disease surveillance

� Improved cashew seed distribution� Environmental Monitoring� Traceability of harvested cashew nuts using

UniqueAID

Unique AID (EurepGap)

Challenges

� It takes time for field officers to master data collection (collecting waypoints, recording and drawing on survey sheets)

� Inadequate logistics – GPS Handsets, fuel and travel for field officers,.. few districts are covered

� High level of effort and expertise is required to ensure efficient running of the GIS program

Way Forward� Intensive supervision of field officers� Acquisition of more GPS handsets� Support needed to pay for fuel and travel for

field enumerators (this is a tedious job)� Building a critical mass of expertise within

MOFA on GIS to ensure sustainability of program

� Zonal mapping to be adopted, instead of community and district based mapping

� For a very GOOD Cashew GIS, a national coverage is necessary

Thanks to the GIS Teams at the District level, CDP and UASID-TIPCEE

Cashew Website

Please visit:www.ghanacashewproducts.com