Improving Agricultural Market Performance:
Developing Agricultural Market Information Systems
19
2.5 GENERIC MIS PROCESS Figure 2 outlines the main processes involved in generating and disseminating agricultural
market information. The process involves collection and transmission of data; analysis of the
data; packaging of the information generated; dissemination of the data; and managing
feedback. These details are discussed below.
Figure 2: MIS Generic Process
Sources: FAO 2017; based on David-Benz, et al. (2011), Galtier, et al. (2014) and Shepherd, (1997)
2.5.1 DATA COLLECTION
As noted by the FAO (2017), the value or quality of an agricultural MIS depends, to a great extent,
on the following regarding the information disseminated:(i) Timeliness;
(ii) Accuracy;
(iii) Reliability; and
(iv) Relevance.
In this regard data collection procedures and processes are an important part of the iterative
process illustrated in Figure 3. Shepherd (1997) observed through a review of MIS in several
developing countries that information provided is valuable to farmers and other users only if it
is accurate and is delivered on time. However, there are significant challenges in collecting data
including the fact that there are different metrics to consider (i.e. weights/measures – products
DATA
COLLECTION
DATA
TRANSMISSION
AND
PROCESSING
DATA
ANALYSIS
INFORMATION
PACKAGING
DISSEMINATION
MANAGING
FEEDBACK