APPSA-Lesotho trains scientists and enumerators on the use of digital data collection tools

Seventeen (17) enumerators were trained on survey data collection using KoboCollect, a digital tool that was installed on mobile phones, configured, and tested with dummy data in a facilitator-led session.

Held at the National University of Lesotho (NUL) on the 10th of June 2022, the training was organized by the Information, Communication and Knowledge Management (ICKM) team under APPSA-Lesotho. This activity comes at a time when the NUL will be commencing a baseline survey under the sub-project titled “Improving Grain Storage Structures for Smallholder Farmers in Angola and Lesotho” led by Dr Pitso Masupha who also participated in the training.

Eight (8) of the enumerators who were trained will be engaged by the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit of APPSA-Lesotho for an annual survey aimed at ascertaining the footprint of APPSA-Lesotho since the inception of APPSA Phase 2. APPSA is a six-year World Bank funded initiative currently under implementation in Angola and Lesotho, with regional coordination by the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA). Lesotho is establishing the Regional Centre of Leadership on Horticulture and Horticulture-based farming systems whereas Angola is focusing on Cassava and Cassava-based farming systems.

ICKM customized the KoboCollect tool for the two surveys to simplify the process of data collection, improve data quality and aggregation. The participants were excited to interact with a user-friendly application that has seemingly eliminated tedious paperwork. Digital solutions are increasingly transforming the agricultural sector, and APPSA aims to reduce elements of carbon footprint by resorting to information technology solutions.