KALRO is Kenya's agricultural research organization with 16 institutes and over 4,000 staff members focused on improving agricultural productivity. It communicates its research results through various channels including journals, websites, and SMS platforms. It collects and shares agricultural data using standardized methods like its e-Mimea plant clinic website and Plantwise program which involves collecting data from plant doctors and farmers. This data is digitized, validated, and shared on public databases and knowledge banks after analysis. Open data and communication of results helps increase visibility, partnerships and wider use of relevant data. However, challenges include costs, data management, and ensuring access and use of data.

1. Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Research Organization
Open Data and Open Science in
Agriculture: Management
Dr. Lusike Wasilwa

2. KALRO: 16 Institutes, 47 Centres & 4,000 staff capacity
(600 scientists)
1. Food Crops Research Institute
2. Industrial Crops Res. Institute
3. Horticulture Research Institute
4. Tea Research Institute
5. Coffee Research Institute
6. Sugar Research Institute
7. Genetic Resources Res. Institute
8. Biotechnology Research Institute
9. Apiculture Research Institute
10. Dairy Research Institute
11. Beef Research Institute
12. Non-ruminant Research Institute
13. Sheep and Goat Research Institute
14. Veterinary Research Institute
15. Agriculture Mechanization Res. Inst.
16. Arid and Rangelands Research Inst.

3. Evolution of Research – Enhanced
interaction with value chain actors
Productivity challenges Market challenges
Policy and institutional
environmentInput
Suppliers
Technology
Development
Production
Collection/
Processing
Distribution
Wholesaling
Retailing
Natural resources
Physical environment

4. Channels of Communication
Communication
of Results
Journals
Books
Technical
notes
Brochures
Fact
sheets
Posters
Annual
reports
Farmer
Magazines
Policy
Briefs

5. Channels of communication
Communication
of Results
Websites
Blogs
Twitter,
Facebook
E-Rails
Newspapers
Shows and
Exhibitions
TV and
Radio
Song and
Poems –
KALRO Choir

6. KALRO Website Hosts/Links
KAINET
Kenya Pollination
Network
Rice Knowledge
Bank
KALRO E-Mimi
Repository
KALRO Institutes
Universities
EAAFJ
Conferences
KALRO E-
Marketplace???

8. Methods Used to Collect and Share Data

9. KARI E-Mimea (Plant) Clinic website launched in June 2013 that
provides real-time information pest and disease management

10. SMS platform
(Code 21336)
Developed an SMS platform for answering farmers
questions on pest and disease management
System is currently being upgraded

11. E-RAILS http://www.erails.net
E-RAILS question and answer service
supported by FARA. Questions are regularly
answered

12. Plantwise Example
Pests and diseases
cause considerable loss
of crop yield
Pests accounts for pre-
harvest losses of 42%
(15% attributable to
insects; 13 % to weeds
and 14 to plant
pathogens)

13. Information flow
Plant clinic register
information flow to and
from farmers
Flow of other information
e.g. market data from
clinics
Information from plant
doctors and farmers and
various stakeholders
Information flow between
stakeholders
Input
supply
Research
Farmers
Regulation
Extension
Plant
clinics
Source: Plantwise, 2012

14. Paper form
completed
Scan paper
form
PDF image
Keyboard
paper form
Excel spread
sheet
Intelligent
Character
Recognition
software
Access Controlled Knowledge Bank Database (with Excel exports)
Raw data
(standard
format)
HarmonisationValidation
Verification
for character
accuracy
Public Access
Knowledge
Bank Database
Detailed
analysis of
crops,
locations,
pests,
outreach,
gender,...
Quality
analysis
of
clinic
performance
Basic
analysis
of
clinics
Country
controlled
filter
Verification
for character
accuracy
Plant Doctors
Clerical Staff National Data Coordinators
Data Transfer Managers
Assistance from Knowledge Bank
National Data Coordinators
National Data Validators
Assistance from Knowledge Bank
Transfer Verification
Harmon-
isation
Validat-ionSharing
Recording
ANALYSISANALYSI
S
ANALYSIS,
PREDICTION
AND
MODELLING
Source: Plantwise, 2012

15. Paper form
completed
Scan paper
form
PDF image
Keyboard
paper form
Excel spread
sheet
Intelligent
Character
Recognition
software
Access Controlled Knowledge Bank Database (with Excel exports)
Raw data
(standard
format)
HarmonisationValidation
Verification
for character
accuracy
Public Access
Knowledge
Bank Database
Detailed
analysis of
crops,
locations,
pests,
outreach,
gender,...
Quality
analysis
of
clinic
performance
Basic
analysis
of
clinics
Country
controlled
filter
Verification
for character
accuracy
Plant Doctors
Clerical Staff National Data Coordinators
Data Transfer Managers
Assistance from Knowledge Bank
National Data Coordinators
National Data Validators
Assistance from Knowledge Bank
Recording Transfer

16. Data Collection, Standardization and
Communication
Capacity building of plant
doctors on use of record
and prescription sheets
Standardized data
collection in all plant
clinics
Digitization of collected
data scanning in clinics
Nominated County
cluster coordinators
Source: Plantwise, 2012

17. Knowledge Bank (KB)
KB clinic
support tools
Clinics data
collection
Content/data CABI,
KALRO, MoA and KEPHIS
KB open access
Reports, metrics, impact
Improved diagnostic
and management tools
Improved data mapping, analysis
and reporting tools
Clinics admin
tool
Accesscontrol
Source: Plantwise, 2012

18. Incidence of Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease
(MLND) in Kenya (May 2013)
Bomet, First report
of MLND, Sept 2011
Areas MLND reported
December 2012
Status of the disease
not confirmed
(May 2013)
?
?
?
?
?
?
Source: KALRO MLND project, 2013

19. Advantages
Increase visibility
Increased chances for
partnership and
collaboration
Avail relevant data for
wide use
Use to develop outputs
for local use
Form an organization
repository

20. Challenges
Cost
Manpower for data
collection and
maintenance
Means to prevent data
loss
Strategies for
managing feedback
Type and format of
data, papers etc.
Access of data from
individuals
Access of data from
collaborators, consortia
Ensure no plagiarism
Increase use of data for
generation of
knowledge
Continuous
surveys/reports on data
use

21. Reach all Actors in the Value Chain
Input
supply
Technology
generationand
dissemination
Production
Processing
Distribution
Consumption
201520122009200620032000

22. THANK YOU