As implied above, there are many aspects to understanding the pattern of agricultural

production in a country.  One aspect is that different crops have different production patterns

depending on land availability, soil productivity, weather, seed availability and access to

markets.  Another aspect is whether households in an area are producing primarily for

subsistence (consumed on farm) or commercial (sold in the market) reasons.  This will

impact on the volume of trade.

Appendix B provides a blank detailed step by step worksheet to identify the major historical

agricultural production patterns in a particular country. This worksheet could be used for

livestock as well, but it would have to concentrate on the distribution of animals. The

information generated using this worksheet should be printed and saved in a folder for use

during the monitoring and  analysis of prices and markets.  An example of a completed

worksheet for Zambia is presented in Figure 3.1.

Figure 3.1: Sample completed worksheet on agricultural production patterns

Appendix B

3. 

Print out a map of the country at the district level for each staple food and cash crops

Worksheet to identify historical agricultural production patterns

listed above that have a specific production pattern.  If the district level is not available,

then print out a map at the provincial level.

Purpose

:  This worksheet will guide the analyst through a series of steps to identify the major

historical agricultural production patterns in their country.  The steps described below are

4. 

For each major staple food crop, draw on one of the maps the area of the country where

intended to be sequential, and should be done in order.  The objective for this worksheet is to

that food is the primary agricultural crop for a majority of the people.

have  an spatial understanding of agricultural production patterns throughout the country.  This

input will be very important in selecting which markets (in which parts of the country) will be

5. 

Use a thematic or GIS mapping software to prepare the maps sketched out in steps 4

monitored intensively, and which markets will be monitored extensively.

and 5.

Steps:

6. 

Write a brief summary of the insights you have learned from this process.  Include in

the summary comments about:

1. 

Photocopy this worksheet.  Use only the photocopy for the steps described below.  The

For stable food crops:

original should remain unmarked in the manual for future use.

1.

What is the major staple food crop grown in the country?

2.

What other important staple food crops are grown in the

2. 

Fill out the table below answering the following questions:

country?

3.

Are there any staple food crops that are specific to (or

a. 

List the major staple food or cash crops produced in your country.

produced more in) a particular part of the country?  If yes,

b. 

Is the crop a staple food or cash crop, or both.

what part of the country?

c. 

Rank each of each staple food crop in terms of its share of national

For cash crops:

production.

1.

What is the major cash crop grown in the country?

d. 

Rank in terms of share of national production.

2.

What other important cash crops are grown in the country?

e. 

For each staple food or cash crop, state whether poorer households,

3.

Are there any cash crops that are specific to (or produced

wealthier households, or all households produce that crop.

more in) a particular part of the country?  If yes, what part

f. 

Indicate the major supply areas for each crop?

of the country?

 Crop

Staple, 

Rank                   Rank           Poor/wealthy/          Region

 Name                Cash, or             as staple                as cash             all HH's?

Tips if the answers to the above questions are not easily available:

                           Both?                     crop?                  crop?

    (a)

  (b)

   (c)  

  (d)                     (e)                         (f)

Try to identify any agricultural production studies that have been

done for your country.  A good source to acquire these studies are

Maize

Both 

                      1                          1                       

All      Central,

universities, donors (who sometimes fund these studies), other

                                                     East, South

government ministry offices, and NGOs.

Cassava

Staple

                      2                          

NA

Poor     Luapula

,

Sorghum/

                                                                                                      N

orth,Western

Send out a very brief (2 3  questions) questionnaire to be completed

Millet

Staple

                3                        

NA       Poor

North,South

by extension workers to ask what are the agricultural production

patterns in their area.

 Cotton   

Cash         NA

                          2               

All   East, South,

        Central

 G'nuts   

Cash        NA   

                    3               

All  Whole country

 Sunflower 

Cash         NA    

                  3              

All        East

Instructions to fill out the worksheet:

Step 2

 should be completed directly on a blank copy of the worksheet.

Using 

steps 3 through 5

 of the above instructions, the following maps were

constructed:

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