The Use of Geographical Information System (GIS) in Enhancing Agriculture productivity: Experiences from Ghana

ADVANCE Program

Leslie Pobee

GIS Specialist ADVANCE Program

BackgroundThe subsistence nature of agriculture in Rural

Ghana Gathering timely, accurate and relevant data on

agricultural productivity remains a challenge Information on the spatial distribution of farms and

other agribusiness service providers in the three Northern Regions of Ghana remains inadequate.

Geographical Information System (GIS) application to agriculture production is helping bridge this information gap Efficiently and profitably balancing the quantum of farm

inputs and outputs

Background-Project Area

Background- Cont...The Agricultural Development and Value Chain

Enhancement (ADVANCE) Program is a USAID funded program implemented by a consortium of local and international partners led by ACDI/VOCA

Our goal To facilitate a transformation of Ghana’s agricultural

sector in selected agricultural staples (maize, rice and soybean) to achieve a greater degree of food security among the rural population in Northern Ghana while increasing competitiveness in the domestic markets

Value Chain Approach

MethodsBetween July and September, 2011 ADVANCE

mapped 5,477Between September and November, 2012,

sampled and mapped 1,044, drawn from 15,224 maize, soybean and rice farmers on the program

Global Positioning System(GPS) coordinates were taken for agribusiness service providers

ArcView 10 was used to convert all GPS coordinates to GIS coverage.

Results-2011 mapping exercise

Results-2012 mapping exercise

Results-Crop Demonstration

Results-Financial Institutions

Results-Crop Insurance

The Future of ADVANCE GIS DataWhat to do with the data when the project

ends?Developed an Online platform to make data

available to the publicBrought other stakeholders (public/private

organizations) to a series of roundtable meeting Share the ideaRope them in, to share data for the platform

The Future of ADVANCE GIS DataCont.…

Sought for a strategic partner to develop, handle and manage the web platform (CERSGIS)

http://www.gis4ghaagric.net

ConclusionThe adoption of Geospatial technologies on the

ADVANCE project has:Enhanced the traceability of our Value Chain ActorsThis traceability has made farmers more visible and

attractive to potential buyers thereby enhancing their linkages to downstream markets.

Created linkages with markets, Input dealers (seed growers, agro-chemical dealers), mechanized service provides, Financial Institutions, good agronomic practices (GAPs), improved technologies.

Thank You