Increasing accuracy

One of the app’s main advantages is that it increases the accuracy of the data collected. The app sends data automatically to an Excel sheet, preventing the errors that often creep into the data during collection and transcription. Field assistant on the project, Dr Adamu Mohammed, described the difficulties using paper and pencil: “You need an eraser – as a human being you make mistakes. Then you had to put the result into Excel and check for mistakes. We don’t have to do that with tablet”.

Saving project time and donor funds

The app speeds up the process of collecting data, saving the project team time so that they can focus on other important project activities. “In 2015, we would do a survey on a datasheet and a field took almost one hour to complete. This year with the app, the most time spent in one field is 20 minutes”, explains Dr Mohammed, “In 2015, we spent 40 days surveying North-East and North-West regions. This time it takes us only 30 days – and we covered more fields.”

Overcoming initial challenges

One challenge the team faced at the start was learning how to use the new technology. Dr Adamu advises others looking to use survey app in the field: “It’s good to assign one person who will master the use of the tablet”. The team have benefited greatly from this approach and the team members now have very clear responsibilities: while the virologist assesses the plant, the field assistant uses the app on a tablet to enter data.

The post Employing digital technology in field data collection: success in Northern Nigeria first appeared on AgShare.Today.

Dr Ndunguru believes that if given ample support, encouragement and inspiration, female African scientists will unlock the transformation of agriculture in Africa through the dissemination of their research. It is in this context that Dr Ndunguru is honouring those who have contributed to this vision by personally commissioning The Ndunguru Award for Female Agricultural Researchers (NAFAR).

The NAFAR award will be given to an African female scientist who is a member of the AgShare.Today community and has had a research paper accepted in 2017. The journal must have an impact factor of at least 3.00 and the researcher must be the primary author of your paper. The successful authors will receive $100 USD, donated by Dr Ndunguru himself.

The award will run from May 2017 until April 2019. If you are eligible and would like to apply, please submit your qualifying journal acceptance letter to Marina Millan at m.millan@agshare.today.

The post The Ndunguru Award for Female Agricultural Researchers first appeared on AgShare.Today.