The Monitoring and Evaluation unit and the Agriculture sector of FAO in collaboration with Researchcare Africa conducted crop yield assessment for 2017 Deyr season for FAO beneficiary farmers and non-beneficiary farmers. The beneficiary famers were supported with livelihood support and cash (“Cash+”) composed of farm inputs and unconditional cash. The purpose of crop yield assessment is to monitor the delivery of agricultural inputs distribution and assessing the impact of the inputs and cash received on the target beneficiaries. A total of 463 famers were assessed using PET questionnaire and 1101 farmers assessed using supplementary questionnaire supplementary questionnaire where there were no crops to assess. In addition, 1204 were assessed using cowpea yield assessment questionnaire. PET is a method adopted by FAO to estimate the yield of cereal crops in fields at harvest time. For this assessment, only the crop cutting component of the PET was used.

It also carried out post distribution and impact assessment  to assess the impact of the inputs and cash received on the target beneficiaries. The assessment covered 999 households in 12 districts. As part of the study, the team assessed the drought and its impact using the Drought Situation Monitoring tool, which was developed by the M&E Unit in consultation with the various technical sectors and units of FAO Somalia. The findings of the study are based on data and information gathered by teams through Key Informant Interviews (KII) with local authorities, focused group discussions (FGD) and direct observation in each location visited. Researchcare Africa collected data from 62 villages in 18 districts in eight regions in Bakool, Bay, Galgaduud, Galgaduud, Gedo, Hiraan, Juba Hoose (Lower), Lower Shabelle and Mudug regions in south central Somalia. The study was carried out from 17 January through 10 February 2018. The study was undertaken to compile and assess different clusters/sectors including population movement, livestock, health conditions, food security, WASH, protection, fishery, general security situation and agriculture including Fall Army Worm surveillance in the targeted locations