Course Overview
This 5-module course is designed to help policy makers, analysts, and development practitioners harness the power of big data in shaping effective and evidence-based agricultural policies. With agriculture generating massive volumes of data from satellites, sensors, markets, and field operations, this course equips participants with the skills to transform data into actionable insights that guide strategic decision-making and resource allocation.
DURATION
5 Days
Target Audience
-
Agricultural Policy Makers and Planners
-
Data Scientists and Analysts in Agriculture
-
Development Program Managers
-
Researchers and Academics
-
Agri-Tech Experts and Consultants
Course Level: Intermediate
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will:
-
Understand the role and scope of big data in agriculture
-
Identify data sources relevant to policy and planning
-
Apply data analytics tools to extract insights for policy development
-
Address data quality, privacy, and governance issues
-
Use case-based approaches to inform impactful agricultural policy
COURSE OUTLINE
Module 1: Understanding Big Data in Agriculture
-
Definition, characteristics, and importance of big data
-
Big data ecosystem in the agriculture sector
-
Sources: satellite imagery, sensors, surveys, IoT, market data
-
Case Study: Data-driven crop insurance policy design
Module 2: Data Collection and Management Strategies
-
Designing data infrastructure for agricultural policy use
-
Data interoperability and metadata standards
-
Handling unstructured and structured agricultural data
-
Practical Exercise: Evaluating data readiness for policy projects
Module 3: Analytical Tools and Techniques
-
Descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive analytics
-
Big data tools: Hadoop, Spark, Google Earth Engine, QGIS
-
Building dashboards for real-time policy tracking
-
Lab Session: Using real datasets to analyze market volatility
Module 4: Data Governance and Policy Alignment
-
Data privacy, security, and ethical considerations
-
Frameworks for data sharing and institutional coordination
-
Integrating big data insights into national agricultural strategies
-
Group Activity: Drafting a data governance protocol
Module 5: Policy Applications and Real-World Cases
-
Climate-smart agriculture and food security planning
-
Early warning systems and resource targeting
-
Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of agricultural interventions
-
Final Project: Designing a big data-informed agricultural policy brief
Customized Training
This training can be tailored to your institution needs and delivered at a location of your choice upon request.
Requirements
Participants need to be proficient in English.
Training Fee
The fee covers tuition, training materials, refreshments, lunch, and study visits. Participants are responsible for their own travel, visa, insurance, and personal expenses.
Certification
A certificate from Ideal Workplace Solutions is awarded upon successful completion.
Accommodation
Accommodation can be arranged upon request. Contact via email for reservations.
Payment
Payment should be made before the training starts, with proof of payment sent to outreach@idealworkplacesolutions.org.
For further inquiries, please contact us on details below:
