Page 238 - Contributed Paper Session (CPS) - Volume 7

CPS2073 Alban Çela et al.
2. Census of Agriculture
The last Census of Agriculture in Albania was conducted in October 2012,
with the objective to collect process and publish data on the structure of
Agricultural Economic Units (farms) operating in Albania. The CA is an integral
part of the agricultural statistics system, the methodology of which complies
with the international standards of the Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO) and with EU legislation: Regulation (EC) 1166/2008 of the Parliament
and of the European Council on farm structure surveys and agricultural
production methods. Agriculture Censuses in Albania usually have a 10 years
frequency. The main purpose of the CA was to: Provide up-to-date and
accurate statistical information on all entities that carry out agriculture
activities in the territory of Albania; Emphasize the main structural features of
agricultural and livestock units such as the management system,
organizational and legal forms, land surface and soil cultivation methods,
cultivated crops and number of livestock heads, used mechanical tools, work
forces and other aspects; Establish the Statistical Farm Register as a basis for
carrying out statistical surveys on Agricultural Economies.

3. Problems faced
The 2012 CA results were delayed as to ensure that totals were in line with
administrative data available from Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development
and Water Administration (MARDWA). The administrative data available were
not fully compliant with requirements and standards of the EU and had to be
reviewed and revised accordingly. Comparative analysis showed that the
outcomes of the CA of 2012 were deviating from the historic data from the
Ministry. The main differences were due to the process of creation of the frame
for CA, as a result of the lack of existence of a unique identifier for agriculture
units in Albania. Preparation of frame has been based on information from
2011 Population and Housing Census; farm animal identification campaign
conducted in 2011 by the Food and Veterinary Safety Institute; National
Registration Centre; the list of public and religious institutions that own or
have access to agricultural land or exercise livestock activities. However, apart
from the existing doubts about the quality of the sampling frame to be used,
there was also the practical issue which choice has to be made about the
organization of the data collection in the field. Negotiations have been
initiated with the Ministry intensifying the cooperative arrangements and
assigning regional staff for the statistical data collection, because of their
experience in the sector and their knowledge of the local circumstances in the
field.

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