Open Data Kit

About

Mercy Corps cultivate crops that both extend community disaster mitigation measures and augment household income. In Nepal, Mercy Corps cultivate sugarcane to reduce siltation and inundation of agricultural fields while reclaiming crop land from eroded rivers and generating income from sugarcane sales. To support communities, Mercy Corps uses a digital survey system called ODK (Open Data Kit) for data collection and to map potential sugarcane cultivation areas (sandy river banks) with geo-tagged information.

Capability and features

ODK is much cheaper than satellites and sensor based mapping, as it makes use of GPS and mobile technology. It works with any type of mobile device with GPS, and is free to use.

NGO staff use ODK for data collection and to map potential sugarcane cultivation areas (sandy river banks) with geo-tagged information, thereby providing additional income opportunities for communities, increasing household savings and protecting them from floods.

Farmers are engaged at a plot level (planting and harvesting), and benefit from increased production.

Meanwhile, the private sector started using this data collection technology for their business forecasting, expansion and operations.

Progress to date

Mercy Corps have improved flood protection, increased savings, increased household incomes for over 1,100 farmers. Partnerships with the private and public sectors, who started using this data collection technology for their business forecasting and operations, has led to the development of the sugarcane sector in Mercy Corps’ operational areas and uptake of the ODK.