AA International Ltd staff, working in emergency and post-emergency circumstances, recognised that non-agriculturalists, working in subsistence agriculture localities, require help to improve their rapid analyses of crop yields.

Previous experience in Ethiopia (Robinson et al, 2004) shows that a visual assessment of yield at harvest time, coupled with strategic sampling, can provide accurate and objective estimates of cereal yield but requires the preparation of a country specific manual. Consequently, a series of Pictorial Evaluation Tools (PET) field manuals is being produced to meet such needs. The first, PET-Ethiopia, a photograph based evaluation field manual, has already been produced, tested and is in use to assist field staff in assessing cereal crops at harvest time.

The second, PET-Sudan, a similar field manual covering a wider range of food crops has also been developed. In September 2006, AA International Ltd ran three training sessions for 64 trainees (representing the Government of South Sudan; FAO and NGO's) on the use of this manual. All of the trainees, equipped with PET manuals and the knowledge of how to use them, are now able to better assess crop production both rapidly and accurately. Four of the individuals who underwent training are using PET-Sudan on a current CFSAM mission. Following feedback from the training, the PET-Sudan manual is now being fine-tuned for further training and distribution.

We are pleased to announce that, in October 2006, AA International Ltd, in conjuction with the Centre for Arid Zones Studies (CAZS-NR) of the University of Wales, Bangor and FAO/GIEWS (Food and Agriculture Organisation / Global Information and Early Warning System), also completed the production of a Cassava Production Assessing Handbook. This handbook allows rapid and accurate estimates of cassava production in fields and backyard plots. It has been financed by the European Commission and FAO and can now be viewed on the GIEWS website at http://www.fao.org/GIEWS/english/index.htm

AA International Ltd can, in regard to PET manuals:

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