Page 103 - Special Topic Session (STS) - Volume 1

STS407 Minerva Eloisa P. E. et al.
The development of a master sampling frame (MSF) for agriculture is
viewed as an essential element of this integration, highlighting the census of
agriculture as one of the main data sources for building the MSF. One of the
important methodological developments under the Global Strategy is the
elaboration of an Agriculture Integrated Survey (AGRIS) methodology and
toolkit for cost-effective approaches for collection of relevant agricultural and
rural data on a regular basis. This will assist countries with underdeveloped
agricultural census and surveys programmes to move towards a fully
integrated approach. In an integrated census and surveys programme the
census of agriculture is broadly used for benchmarking for the subsequent
agricultural statistics surveys and is a main reference for reconciliation of data
from different surveys and sources.
Further, in an integrated statistical system, the connection between the
population and housing census and the agriculture census is strong, and as
such it is useful to look at ways to strengthen the relationship between the
two censuses. At the operational level, linking the population and housing
census with the agriculture census is more suitable for countries where both
2
censuses are carried out as a household enquiry .
Advantages of integration include production of coherent and manageable
set of items knowing that related data are comparable with other sources.
Through integration, concepts, definitions and classifications used in the
different statistical activities can be made compatible, hence, will facilitate data
analysis across sectors/collections. On the administrative side, integration will
avoid duplication of statistical activities, prevent the release of conflicting
statistics, ensure the best use of resources (human, financial, etc.), reduce the
burden of response, and enable agriculture to be an integral part of statistical
planning and budgeting processes. WCA 2020 promotes the development of
an integrated statistical system to respond on resolving these issues.
GSIARS provides the framework for integration of the agricultural statistical
system into the preparation of the National Strategy for Development of
Statistics (NSDS), putting an emphasis on the census of agriculture as a main
pillar of the national programmes. Countries are encouraged to design a
Strategic Plan for the Development of Agricultural and Rural Statistics (SPARS)
mainstreamed into the NSDS process. An integrated agricultural statistics
system involves a multi-year programme of statistical activities, including an
agricultural census and agricultural surveys, to provide all the data required.
3

2 Food and Agriculture Organization (2017), World Programme for the Census of Agriculture
2020 Vol. 1.
3 Food and Agriculture Organization (2017). World Programme for the Census of Agriculture
2020 Vol. 1.

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