Feed the Future Agricultural Indicators Guide

The guide is intended to support the implementation of the Feed the Future initiative, a global hunger and food security initiative led by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The guide builds on the Feed the Future Indicator Handbook, which describes each of the indicators selected for monitoring and evaluating the initiative. The guide focuses on four key indicators: gross margin, incremental sales, number of farmers and others applying improved technologies or management practices, and number of hectares under improved technologies or management practices. These indicators are used to measure the impact of agricultural development programs on small-holder farmers and their households. The guide provides detailed guidance on the methodology for collecting and analyzing data for these indicators, including the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS). The guide emphasizes the importance of accurate and reliable data in evaluating the effectiveness of agricultural development programs. It provides guidance on data collection, including the use of surveys, interviews, and observations, as well as the importance of data quality control and validation. The guide also discusses the challenges of measuring certain indicators, such as intercrops and agricultural area, and provides recommendations for addressing these challenges. The guide is organized into several sections, including general guidance, annual performance monitoring, selection of indicators, beneficiaries, disaggregation of indicators, data collection, and measurement challenges. Each section provides detailed information on the methodology and procedures for collecting and analyzing data for the selected indicators. The guide also includes several appendices that provide additional information on data collection and analysis, including formulas for area and data forms for number of farmers and others. The guide is intended for use by implementing partners, government agencies, and other stakeholders involved in the implementation of the Feed the Future initiative. It provides a comprehensive framework for collecting and analyzing data on the impact of agricultural development programs on small-holder farmers and their households. The guide includes several tables and figures that provide additional information on the methodology and procedures for collecting and analyzing data for the selected indicators. These include tables that compare techniques for measuring area and production, as well as figures that illustrate the use of GIS and GPS in data collection.