Improving Agricultural Statistics in the COMCEC Region

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Table 58 indicates that the Malaysian agricultural statistical system compiles and disseminates a

wide variety of statistics relating to the traditional domains such as agricultural GDP, rural

income, agricultural trade, production prices, and income distribution, with a maximum of a

one-year lag. The statistics of land distribution domains are available with longer time delays.

However, agricultural input prices, agri-environmental indicators and food balance sheets are

missing.

iii. Resources of the Agricultural System

Agricultural statistics in Malaysia are compiled by several institutions including, DOSM, MOA,

MOPIC, MNRE, MRRD, amongst others. Within these institutions, several divisions play

important roles in producing agricultural trade statistics. Such statistics are not compiled by

agricultural statistics directorates of DOSM. Therefore, it is very difficult to identify the exact

allocation for agricultural statistics at the country level. Additionally, these resources may

change over the years depending on the calendar of large scale surveys and censuses.

iv. Methodology Used in Agricultural Statistics

Sampling Frameworks:

MOA usually adopts probability sampling methods to implement the

surveys. The sampling frame is usually based on agricultural tax. However, depending on the

subject survey, different frames such as area frame are used. For land use, satellite system is

used and the frame is updated every two years

Data Collection:

The general approach for data collection for surveys is still conducted using

questionnaires in hardcopy. For censuses however, questionnaires are usually sent

electronically via e-mails. In general, data entry is provided by the field staff to the dashboards

of agencies. The verification of the consistency of data entered is conducted at the

headquarters, by experts who use the proper algorithms. In order to analyse the data, software

such as SPSS, SAS, and e-view are used.

Commodity Classification:

Malaysia uses up-to-date classification systems as shown in Table 59 below:

Table 59: Classification System Used in Malaysia

Classification

Version

ISIC (International Standard Industrial Classification)

Version 1 (4 digits)

MSIC (Malaysia Standard Industrial Classification) - National

2008 (Verion 1)

MCPA (Malaysia Classification of Products by Activity) - National

2005, 2009

CPC (Central Product Classification)

CPC 2 (4 digits)

SITC (Standard International Trade Classification)

Version 4 (9 digits)

HS (Harmonized System Classification)

HS 2012 (9 digits)

SNA (System of National Accounting)

SNA2008

Source: SSAQ Results and DOSM, 2014d.

MOA, 2014 and DOSM, 2014c.

DOSM, 2014d.