Features of multiple-cropping systems in Central Africa and their possible effects on data collection*

Abstract

The influence of farming systems on methods of agricultural data collection in an area of 600 km2 of Rwanda was studied. Farm layouts, cropping patterns, resource allocations, and timing of farm activities of intensive multiple-cropping systems were described, and their influences on intensive data collection were discussed. These influences include difficulties to collect onfarm data on input utilization and farm sizes in a timely and accurate fashion. The study indicates that agricultural survey methods must be tailored to fit local farming systems. Particularly in multiple-cropping systems where farm characteristics and farm practices are highly variable, surveys must be designed with high flexibility in terms of logistics, timing of data collection, and with no pre-defined rules of data-collection methods.