ZAMBIA CALLED TO BOOST DATA CAPTURE SYSTEM

By HAPPY MULOLANI

THE need to enhance data capture is key if Zambia is to progress on an upward trajectory in order to contribute to the research and development of the agriculture sector.

One of the concerns is to have a multisectoral system with respect to how data is captured and shared to various stakeholders and players. 

For this reason, the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA) is implementing a CAADPX4 Programme which is funded by the European Union (EU) and administered by International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). It is implemented in collaboration with African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services in East and Central Africa (ASARECA), West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF) and Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa.

The programme is focusing on knowledge management strategies and data capture guidelines that will facilitate collection of data to meet the national commitments. To facilitate the effective implementation of information, communication management (ICKM), a national consultative workshop of key stakeholders involved in data capture across government ministries was recently held in Chisamba.

The purpose of the meeting was for CCARDESA to learn and draw lessons from national stakeholders on how organisations in Zambia collect information Malabo commitments data and reports are presented in line with the CAADP-XP4 Biennial report.

CCARDESA Consultant Fallys Masambuka highlighted that the necessity for tackling the bottlenecks amid data capture processes. Despite these concerns, Dr Masambuka observed that the National Agricultural Information Services (NAIS) has been instrumental in disseminating agriculture information to farmers and stakeholders, but more effort needs to be approached in a more focused and coordinated manner.

Dr Kanchewa remarked that there is lack of institutional support, which has affected how information is shared. The realization that most reports shared focus on project activities rather than on the Malabo Declaration is worrisome. It is also pacifying that when project activities are donor dependent, sustaining the process has been a serious challenge as it has affected coordination.

Dr Kanchewa further observed that one of the problems is lack of data sharing and limited data capture and documentation of local and indigenous knowledge and experiences.

“The absence of guidelines and strategies on data capture (tools and technologies) needs to be seriously addressed,” she said.

Dr Kanchewa emphasized that roles in terms of how monitoring and evaluation is done, who owns data and who are the user’s needs to be take into account.

“How data capture is done in Zambia is important to know, what technologies are used, what formats are used, what framework is used, who uses data and what is happening beyond these organisations,” she stressed.

These underlining factors need to be concretised by policy guidelines about data capture in order to make data capture and sharing available and vibrant to government and stakeholders, as doing so will tap into the opportunities and existing strengths.

Identifying these bottlenecks is key to coming up with a data capture strategy meant to promote a system for sustainable agriculture productivity.

Dr Kanchewa disclosed that one of the objectives of this research is to create a meaningful environment where data capture and knowledge management in the country is enhanced among various stakeholders in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Malabo declaration. Ideally, this requires to support the establishment of a functional and user focused data which is currently lacking in how data is captured.

And one of the participants, who is also a Communications Specialist, Natasha Mhango, explains that one of the major problems affecting data capture is lack of experts sharing their expert views on topical issues. This not only slows down the process but also affects the quality of reports shared.

“Often reports tend to be inconsistent because they either lack quality information or have old information,” Ms Mhango said.

The national agriculture policy is key to boosting the key issues of data capture and importance of promoting disclosure of public information within government ministries and beyond.

While data capture is a matter of concern, the trend shows that since the Malabo Declaration and CAADP (Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme) was initiated, some countries were performing fairly well up to 2019 but after that period, Rwanda is the only country which has been consistent.

“The preposition is to have a CAADP Champion who can influence decisions by interacting with politicians and other influential people on the potential benefits of enhancing agriculture development,” Chief Agricultural Economist, Christopher Mbewe, stressed.

This is premised on the understanding that to actualise and succeed in the implementation of a strategy of knowledge management and data capture

 the need for political will to exist if programmes of such a magnitude which require government support are to be.

Mr Mbewe explained that some people think CAADP is a project probably because of the way it was initiated. 

The progress in achieving the Malabo Declaration has been on a downward spiral due to lack of support systems that promote data capture hence the need to develop a data capture system. Suffice to state that the Malabo Declaration underscores the CAADP implementation as a national responsibility. CAADP is an African- led agenda initiative conceptualized to guide Africa’s agricultural transformation for sustained food security and socio-economic growth.

Presently, the country has no data protection policy on any form of data captured.

“Data protection for any form of data is not captured per se. There is also limited capacity to analyse data,” says Stephen Chundama from the Zambia Development Agency.

Mr Chundama also points out the need to strengthen governance structures in order to dismantle cylos. Evidently, structures are in place, it is just a matter of re-thinking how to make the system more efficient.

Clearly, there is need to have appropriate policies to protect indigenous data too.

Ultimately, there is need to support an integrated data capture system which should enhance adopted strategies and promote the agriculture sector and key players involved in this process.