GSARSII Workshop Concludes in Guinea: Enhancing Agricultural Data Collection and Analysis

The Global Strategy to Improve Agricultural and Rural Statistics organized a capacity building workshop in Guinea from March 11-15, 2024, focusing on the data processing and analysis of a pilot survey on agricultural losses. This workshop marked another significant step in the Global Strategy to Improve Agricultural and Rural Statistics (GSARSII) program, which aims to bolster statistical capacity in Guinea. 

Led by expert statistician, Audrier Sanou, the workshop supported the local team in processing and analyzing data collected from the pilot survey conducted in the prefectures of Dubréka and Coyah. The survey, which took place between October and December 2023, involved 156 agricultural households. 

During the Data Treatment and Analysis Workshop held from March 11-14, participants received a methodological refresher on the pilot survey, which utilized the 50X2030 initiative's agricultural loss questionnaire. The survey included both objective measurements and declarative data, with a focus on testing the questionnaire's effectiveness. Data processing steps involved verifying completeness, removing duplicates, correcting missing or erroneous data, and ensuring coherence in responses. Key indicators calculated from the data included pre-harvest losses, harvest losses, and post-harvest losses across various operations such as threshing, winnowing, drying, transportation, and storage. 

The final results were presented during the workshop on March 15, which featured opening remarks by Mr. Doumbouya, Deputy Director-General of the National Agency for Agricultural and Food Statistics (ANASA), and Mr. Mamadou Tanou Diallo, FAO Assistant Representative. Presentations covered the GSARSII project overview, survey methodology, pilot survey results, data dissemination, and the construction of Master sampling frames (MSF). Discussions and feedback sessions led to valuable recommendations, including the need for precision balances and moisture meters for future surveys, and the addition of questions addressing the primary causes of post-harvest losses. 

The pilot survey successfully identified key agricultural loss indicators and highlighted areas for improvement in survey tools and methodologies. Participants expressed satisfaction with the training received, emphasizing the importance of continuing efforts to enhance data dissemination and survey sampling strategies. It is planned that an agricultural loss questionnaire will be included in the 50X2030 survey program for the coming years. 

The Global Strategy to Improve Agricultural and Rural Statistics (GSARS) Phase II focuses on enhancing the capacity of countries to produce and use agricultural statistics, contributing to better policy decisions and sustainable agricultural development.