| Tool Production for Assessments: Pictorial Evaluation Tools |
|
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-Cereals Ethiopia, a photograph based evaluation field manual, was produced by CAZS-NR in 2004. MoA trainers were trained in its use and workshops held at Regional and Woreda (level). Two thousand copies have been distributed in Ethiopia and are in use to assist field staff in assessing cereal crops at harvest time. Download a free copy of pet_cereals_ethiopia.
The second PET, PET-South 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 assess crop production both more rapidly and accurately. The PET-South Sudan manual is now being used to good effect in CFSAMs in South Sudan. Download a free copy of PETSouthSudan .
In October 2006, FAO/GIEWS (Food and Agriculture Organisation / Global Information and Early Warning System), completed the printing of a Cassava Production Assessing Handbook produced using the technical assistance services of AA International Ltd. This handbook shows how to conduct 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 or apply to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for a free electronic copy of the original. We are pleased to announce the recent completion of two new Pictorial Evaluation Tools, 'PET Crops Somalia' and 'PET Livestock Somalia.' These two manuals have recently been published by AA International Ltd and were produced in association with FAO and FSNAU with funds from the World Bank and the Qatar Charity respectively. PET Crops Somalia contains photographs that assist assessors in estimating the amounts of crop in Somali fields at harvest time. You can download PET Crops Somalia free of charge by following the link to PET Manuals Somalia in the blog section of this website or from the news section of our TechTalk website. PET Livestock Somalia helps Somali assessors estimate and evaluate changes in the body condition of livestock. You can also download PET Livestock Somalia free of charge by following the PET Manuals Somalia link from the blog section of this website or the news section of our TechTalk website. AA International Ltd can, in regard to PET manuals:
|