Improving Agricultural Statistics in the COMCEC Region
97
collect and report field data were either laid off or taken on by the District authorities
following decentralization of the Government. The establishment in terms of staff in the
Statistics section of MAAIF was greatly reduced, enabling the Ministry to provide meaningful
statistical services. The MAAIF functions and structures have recently been reviewed to
develop appropriate and optimal MAAIF and LG production department structures that will
enable MAAIF fulfil its role and mandate for effective service delivery within the sector.86
The Crop Card Method (CCM) of collecting agricultural production data was introduced in
Agriculture Module of the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UNHSP)
(2005/2006). The objective was to try and tackle the challenge of estimating agricultural
production from own produce and frequently or continuously harvested crops such as cassava,
sweet potatoes, bananas, etc. This method had some practical problems associated with its use.
For example, it was more costly than farmers’ or eye estimates because of repeated visits to
the farmer to monitor the completion of the cards.
Other challenges faced when using this method are as follows:
 The Crop Card monitor did not visit the households regularly.
 In some cases, purchases were also recorded.
 Various units of quantities have to be converted into standard ones. These vary
according to the area.
 There were many fruits harvested that were usually not reported by respondents
during surveys.
 Some respondents were unable to record the harvested crops.
The CCM is a better method in recording actual harvests in selected clusters, most especially
for root and tuber crops and banana. The crop card can be considered as a possible source of
annual data on agricultural production for a few selected variables.
Another related survey was a trial survey for land use. The objective of Trial Integrated Land
Use Survey (TILUS) in 2005 to 2007 was to determine the usefulness of rapid aerial survey
methodologies, specifically Aerial Point Sampling (APS) and Systematic Reconnaissance Flights
(SRF), for conducting inventories of agriculture and livestock. The trial was conducted in four
districts of Uganda namely Arua, Sembabule, Kabarole and Bundibugyo.
Surveys by the Department of Fisheries Resources (DFR)/the National Fisheries
Resources Research Institute (NaFIRRI): The Water Bodies Unit in the Department of
Fisheries Resources (DFR) is responsible for initiating the process of developing Lake
Management Plans (LMP) aimed at improving management and hence curbing the declining
fishery resources on water bodies. The unit conducts Frame Surveys on all water bodies in
Uganda to collect data for guiding fisheries management and development; this is usually done
in collaboration with the National Fisheries Resources Research Institute (NaFIRRI). Frame
surveys are carried out to determine the overall fishing factors operating on the lakes. The
spatial and temporal distribution of fishing effort is evaluated as well as the structure and
function of the fleet.
86 MAAIF, 2014.