How my data collection work empowers Ghana’s farmers

My name is Kalian Sampoa Gumah, and I work as an enumerator in Ghana, collecting data from agricultural workers. People often think data collection is just about ticking boxes, but it's much more than that. The data we collect helps the government understand labour conditions in agriculture — who is working, how many hours they put in, what they are paid, what their working conditions are and what challenges they face.

But beyond the numbers, it’s about listening to people’s stories and helping them see themselves and their work in new ways.

I started this journey in 2015. While the work has changed over the years, the areas of agriculture and climate change have remained close to my heart.

I love it. Not just for the job itself, but because it allows me to connect with farmers and workers, visit new places and form relationships that last beyond the surveys.

When I go into a community, I’m not just an outsider with a questionnaire. Over time, the farmers and I build a connection. We call each other now and then, checking in, offering help when we can. Sometimes they call to ask when I’ll be back, especially when the data collection is delayed.

A typical day starts early. Really early. During the rainy season, we leave home by 4.00 or 4.30 a.m. If we don’t get to the community by 6.00 or 7.00, the farmers will already be out in the fields, and we will have to wait until the evening when they return. On a good day, we might manage to administer the survey to two or three people in the morning and maybe two more in the evening.

The survey data helps to inform national employment and agricultural policies, helping make visible the contributions of informal workers and supporting better systems for them.

The work itself is not without challenges. The questionnaires can be long, especially for farmers with many plots of land. Some have up to ten. It takes time, and farmers sometimes get frustrated. Others have moved since the first round—finding them again is a task in itself.

Then there are the sceptics. Some people are wary of outsiders asking questions. I remember one case where someone questioned who I was. I had to show my ID and our project documents to gain their trust.

But having a shared cultural background helps. Many of the farmers I meet are from northern Ghana, like me. Once they realize I am one of them, the conversation changes. The atmosphere relaxes. We joke, we laugh, and the data collection becomes easier.

Data collection is more than filling forms. While the larger impact on the policies might take a while, the most immediate impact of the survey process is the perspective it provides to the farmers.

It opens their eyes to the realities of their work, about efficiency and productivity, as well as the working conditions.

Many don’t keep records of how much they spend or how much they borrow each season. When they see all their expenses written down, some farmers are shocked. They realize how much of their income goes to pay back loans — often with high interest rates, sometimes as high as 100%.

Although most farm workers aren’t formally employed, there’s an informal understanding about pay, work hours, and breaks. The working conditions – like being provided with food, water and sometimes transport – are generally fair, but men and women are often paid differently for the same work.  

Once I’m back home from the field, the work isn’t over. I go through all the data I’ve collected, making sure everything adds up. If something doesn’t look right, it gets flagged — by our supervisors or even the software system we use.

Sometimes I have to get back in touch with the farmers to double-check details or explain why they answered a certain way. Because I was there, I know the story behind the numbers, so it’s my job to make sure that story is clear before the data moves up to headquarters.

For me, this work also connects with my personal mission. I am passionate about sustainable development and how to support people at the grassroots level to build a sustainable income.

I studied psychology and sociology at the University of Ghana. I’ve worked in the NGO sector, on climate change, on women’s empowerment and on financial inclusion. Now, I’m studying for an MSc in Financial Investment. I want to build my capacity further, not just for myself but to help young people, especially young women, build financial literacy and secure their futures.

So yes, I’m an enumerator. But to me, I’m also connecting people, stories, and data — and playing my part to improve the lives of smallholder farmers.