Data collection and data validation protocol

This document has details of training protocol, data validation protocol , and contact details of VRPs/ Jeevika staff.

High level overview of data flow

During kharif 2021, we will gather practice data on ~250 farmers in Gurua block of Gaya district.

The data we plan to collect is informed by the requirements of the third party models we will use to estimate GHG emissions.

See this doc for the complete list for inputs needed to generate estimates from the DNDC model; requirements for CoolFarmTool are a subset of this.

Open

During rabi 2021/2022, we want to gather practice data on ~1,600 farmers (exact districts TBC). We will leverage learnings from the kharif pilot and put in place tooling to make this happen in a way that is rigorous, credible, and efficient.

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Helpful resource from J-PAL detailing data quality checks / validation steps that can be incorporated into our process

https://www.povertyactionlab.org/resource/data-quality-checks

Data collection Training protocol-VRPs

1. Context setting- Explain to VRPs , the purpose of data collection. ( Hindi )

2. Brief description of climate change. 

3. To Analyse Climate resilient practices.

4. To get scientific advisories based on the data. 

5. Analysis on Nitrogen Management, Organic carbon ,  Water management,  and Residue management. 

( They lead to  sustainable agri practices). 

1. Kobocollect -Opensource data collection form and data feeds into the dashboard. 

2. Farmers with their own land. 

3. II. VRPs to Farmers:  ( Hindi)

  Talking points ( In Hindi for VRPs- WhatsApp msg)

1. Digital documentation of practices. ( VRP register)

• जैसा की आपको पता है वर्तमान में आपके फसलो की साडी जानकारी हम VRP रजिस्टर में दर्ज करते है पर पर इस शोध में हम आपके फसलो की जानकारी मोबाइल में दर्ज करेंगे  

• Improvement in practices and get customised advisories. 

• आपसे आपके फसल की ली हुई जानकारियों को विशेषज्ञों के सलाह के बाद आपको आपके फसलो के लिए उचित सलाह दी जाएगी

1. Impact on climate change due to agriculture  practices and estimate the impact of agriculture on climate change. 

-इस दौरान हम इस चीज़ का भी आकलन करेंगे की कृषि पद्धतियां को अपनाने से हमारे वातावरण/जलवायु पर इसका क्या प्रवाभ पड़ता है जैसे धान में मात्रा से अधिक उर्वरक का उपयोग करने से क्या प्रभाव पड़ता है 

1. Market linkages for the Climate-smart  Agriculture products. ( one of the possibilities). 

 अच्छे तकनीक से किये हुए खेती से उपजे फसल को बाज़ार में अच्छी मिलती है अच्छे तकनीक से किये हुए खेती का मतलब जैसे जैविक खेती या कम उर्वरक का उपयोग किया हुआ खेती 

III. Before training-

 ·       Install Kobo collect in smartphones. 

·       Share credentials with the CRPs/ Jeevika Block Managers.

·       Install app lock

·       Data package for 6 months -1 GB per day.

·       Keep examples of two farmers –with all the relevant details. 

.       Put launcher icon on home screen

.       lock uninstallation of app 

IV. Dos and don’ts for smartphone use.

• Brief about smartphones -15 minutes.  (Mobile Operations) 

• Charge battery fully before field visit.

• No game apps

• No automatic download of Videos on WhatsApp.

• Not to be used by kids.

• Protect phone -screen guard and Back cover

• Protect phone with password/ Pattern.

V.  Training  : 

·       Open the Kobo collect app (Familiarize the icon)

·       Select the tab- Get Blank form

·       Select MRV Demo form for the purpose of training.

·       Come back to the home page.

·       Select the tab Fill the blank form.

·       Ask them to read each question and make them understand the context.

·       Ask them “how would they ask the question to the farmer?”

·       Ask them possible answers.

·       Pick the correct answers and ask them to enter on the mobile form.

·       Continue this process for all questions and fill in relevant answers on the mobile app.

·       Ask if answers are in text /Number for all the questions.

·       Ensure that they fill in all the questions.

·       Ask them to save the form in the name of the Farmer including the Father’s name followed by the phone number.

·       Ask them to submit a saved form.

·       Show them where they can see the submitted form. (View sent form)

·       Ensure that form is submitted immediately after the data entry.

·       There should be nothing on the “Send Finalized form” tab

·       Ask them to take photos wherever there is an option.

·       REPEAT the process for 2^nd Farmer without any support

·       Note down the time taken to complete the data entry.

“ Collect proofs from the field - Images, Bill, Register , Peer opinion etc”

VI.  Sample farmer data for training, Farmer #1 -Sample case for  training

Name of the farmer:  Shanti Devi

Name of the father- Devinder Singh

Mobile Number: 9876543212

Village-Godiyari

Name of the SHG: GandhiJi SHG

Name of the CLF: Subhas CLF

Name of the Panchayat: Godiyari

Village Organisation-Devi Maa

Block-Tajpur

District-

Area Under Paddy- 42

Previous crop – Bengal gram

Harvest date- 10.4.21

Previous crop- Mustard

Harvest date- 15.5.21

Dry tillage- 25.5.21

Puddling-15.7.21

Tractor plough-

Tillage depth-5 inches

Paddy variety- Suvarna

Sowing date Nursery- 20.6.21

transplanting date- 16.7.21

Number of seedlings per pit- 2

Take picture

Irrigation source- Borewell

Irrigation type- Alternate Wetting and Drying ( Explain types of irrigation)

Water quantity- 2 inches (Explain how to ask this question)

Irrigation hours per day (date wise )

Take picture of irrigated plot

Chemical fertilizer- Apply to the root zone

Date of application-16.7.21

Urea -50 kgs

DAP-50 kgs

17:!7:17- 0

19:19:19-25 kgs

MoP:25 kgs

Take picture of the fertilizer Bag

Manure

Subsurface application

Date of application- 10.6.21

Name of the manure-Gobar

Quantity of FYM- 2 TL

Harvest date- Not relevant for Form 1

Paddy yield – Not relevant for Form 1Straw yield- 500 kgs

Nitrogen content- Not relevant for Form 1

Average crop height- Not relevant for Form 1Stubble height- 6

Name of the form- Shanti Devi Devinder singh 9876543212

Farmer # 2 

Name of the farmer:  Surendra singh

Name of the father- Devinder Singh

Mobile Number: 9876543215

Village-Digha

Name of the SHG: 

Name of the CLF: 

Name of the Panchayat: 

Village Organisation- Gayatri 

Block-Gurua

District- Gaya

Area Under Paddy- 39

Previous crop – wheat 

Harvest date- 13.3.21

Previous crop- lentil

Harvest date- 17.4.21

Dry tillage- 23.4.21

Puddling-17.6.21

Tractor plough-

Tillage depth-6 inches

Paddy variety- Suvarna

Sowing date Nursery- 20.6.21

transplanting date- 16.7.21

Number of seedlings per pit- 2

Take picture

Irrigation source- Borewell

Irrigation type- Alternate Wetting and Drying ( Explain types of irrigation)

Water quantity- 2 inches (Explain how to ask this question)

Irrigation hours per day (date wise )

Take picture of irrigated plot

Chemical fertilizer- Apply to the root zone

Date of application-18.7.21

Urea -45 kgs

DAP-45 kgs

17:!7:17- 0

19:19:19-25 kgs

MoP:25 kgs

Take picture of the fertilizer Bag

Manure

Subsurface application

Date of application- 11.6.21

Name of the manure-Gobar

Quantity of FYM- 2 TL

Harvest date- Not relevant for Form 1

Paddy yield – Not relevant for Form 1Straw yield- 500 kgs

Nitrogen content- Not relevant for Form 1

Average crop height- Not relevant for Form 1Stubble height- 6

Name of the form- Surendra singh Devinder singh 9876543213

Data Validation:   

All the data points from the forms (Questionnaire) are properly captured and are recorded  from farmers and fields directly (Data should not be collected over phone calls).  The questions which have answers in terms of numerical need to be verified. Example – Number of seedlings per pit, if farmers say 2 and this should be verified on the field by the CRPs and take an image of the seedlings. And about 15% of the families need to be validated. (Physical data verification of 50% of these families will be carried out),

Inbuilt Mechanisms to capture right data- 

1. Images taken through Kobo collect.

2. Deployment of 3-4 forms over a period of cropping season.  (No fatigue)

3. Objective data capturing-Dates/ Numerical. 

4. Review meetings- Data will be presented in VO meetings.  

WhatsApp group - All the participant CRPs, concerned Jeevika Staff, and DG staff are part of the group ( CSA-Gaya). Pilot-related activities are posted in this group and if CRPs find it difficult to understand any questions, they can take a screenshot and share it in the groups for quick suggestions. The data validation updates will be mentioned in this group to expedite data editing and payment approvals. CRPs can update the number of families they have captured data from. 

One  VRP is responsible for collecting data from 50 -60 farmers. SEW/MRP would pick randomly 10 farmers to validate the data and confirm that the data captured by the VRPs are correct.  Need to visit 5 farmers per VRP  at the field to validate the data. 

For data to be accepted and payment to be made, agronomic / practice data for all sampled farmers need to be fully accurate.  

If 10% or more entries are not accurate, the entire batch of VRP data is rejected and no payment is made. 

Payment to VRPs: 

Rs 1000   will be paid to the VRPs per month till December 31^st 2021 after completing these tasks and is approved by the Jeevika and validated by digital green. 

Minimum tasks to get monthly payment to be recommended by Jeevika. 

1. Capture correct  data from all the designated farmers (Around 50 families) whenever forms are deployed. 

2. Manage visitors and help them to connect with the farmers.

3. Organise meetings of farmers for discussions. 

4. Use mobile for the purpose of data capturing and basic communication.  

5. Payment to be recommended by LHS after validating data of 10 farmers.

6. For data to be accepted and payment to be made, agronomic / practice data for all sampled farmers need to be fully accurate.   

7. If 10% or more entries are not accurate, the entire batch of VRP data is rejected and no payment is made. 

8. Payment Process- The approved payments to be transferred to the bank accounts of VRPs

9. Format for payment- Use prescribed formats. 

Mobile phone Policy: 

1. Mobile phones to be returned after the pilot period in good condition.

2. Mobile phones are to be used for the purpose of data capturing and basic communication.

3. Mobile should be used by the user and should not be allowed to be used by the other members of the family.

4. SIM has to be procured by the user and a Data pack during the pilot period will be provided by digital green. 

5. Mobile phones will be insured for theft or loss or get a warranty from the dealers.  

6. Use LOOP formats to transfer Mobile phones to VRPs.  

Contact details: DG team to update this format

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lUMcZuagTv9fY5vHKalaK1UIQRdclTae/edit