Spatialized sorghum & millet yields in West Africa, derived from LSMS-ISA and RHoMIS datasets

Description: The dataset represents a significant effort to compile and clean a comprehensive set of seasonal yield data for sub-saharan West Africa (Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger). This dataset, overing more than 22,000 survey answers scattered across more than 2500 unique locations of smallholder producers’ households groups, is instrumental for researchers and policymakers working in agricultural planning and food security in the region. It integrates data from two sources, the LSMS-ISA program (National Household Surveys…), and the RHoMIS dataset (link to RHoMIS files, RHoMIS' DOI). 

The construction of the dataset involved meticulous processes, including converting production into standardized unit, yield calculation for each dataset, standardization of column names, assembly of data, extensive data cleaning, and making it a hopefully robust and reliable resource for understanding spatial yield distribution in the region.

Data Sources: The dataset comprises seven spatialized yield data sources, six of which are from the LSMS-ISA program (Mali 2014, Mali 2017, Mali 2018, Benin 2018, Burkina Faso 2018, Niger 2018) and one from the RHoMIS study (only Mali 2017 and Burkina Faso 2018 data selected). 

Dataset Preparation Methods: The preparation involved integration of machine-readable files, data cleaning and finalization using Python/Jupyter Notebook. This process should ensure the accuracy and consistency of the dataset. Yield have been calculated with declared production quantities and GPS-measured plot areas. Each yield value corresponds to a single plot.

Discussion: This dataset, with its extensive data compilation, presents an invaluable resource for agricultural productivity-related studies in West Africa. However, users must navigate its complexities, including potential biases due to survey and due to UML units, and data inconsistencies. The dataset's comprehensive nature requires careful handling and validation in research applications.

Authors Contributions:

• Data treatment: Eliott Baboz, Jérémy Lavarenne.
• Documentation: Jérémy Lavarenne.

Funding: This project was funded by the INTEN-SAHEL TOSCA project (Centre national d’études spatiales). "123456789" was chosen randomly and is not the actual award number because there is none, but it was mandatory to put one here on Zenodo.

Changelog: 

• v1.0.0 : initial submission