Improving Agricultural Statistics in the COMCEC Region
113
iii. Resources of the Agricultural Statistics System
Human Resources: There are only 6 staffs working on the production of agricultural statistics
in Sudan. Staff training is usually provided at the start of each new statistical operation. There
is a plan for the medium and long-term to ensure that all staff receives training. It should be
noted that there is currently no study on the needs for training, skills available or the
requirements necessary in order to achieve both current and planned statistical work. 105
Financial Resources: There is no separate budget for agricultural statistics. The total public
budget allocated to the CBS in 2012 was about 1 million USD equivalent to as little as 0.05
percent of Sudan’s public budget for the last year. 106
Physical Resources: CBS and MoAI are not well equipped in terms of buildings, computers
and transport facilities. However, in terms of institutional capacities involving staff knowledge
and learning capabilities, the organization’s development is considered adequate, provided
that organizational brain drain does not occur.107
iv. Methodology Used the Agricultural Statistics System
Sampling: Surveys conducted are usually contracted to and administered by international
humanitarian and development agencies, such as the WFP, FAO and other NGOs. The sample
size of each administrative unit is usually fixed according to the agricultural importance of the
unit concerned and to the diversity of agricultural crops produced. In most household surveys
the Household Economy Approach is usually used when the geographical zonation is the first
step in the sample area frame used.108
Data Collection: Owing to inadequate financial capacity, the Government did not conduct any
agricultural census and depends on the sporadic efforts conducted by some of the separate
state administrations (such as Khartoum and Gezira). The federal MoAI conducted its annual
crop estimates with the support of FAO, based on a rapid data collection approach.
Fortunately, there have been some serious initiatives administered by MoAI to prepare land-
use maps for Sudan, using satellite imaging, which are supported by ground check farm
management surveys. These are used because often satellite images do not differentiate
between the types of shrubs and trees. CBS could hence possibly use such satellite imagery for
a Master Sample Frame to acquire agricultural statistics followed by an integrated survey
framework and an integrated database that would successfully lead to the integration of
agriculture into the national system of Sudan.
MoAI uses a conventional method of data collection through questionnaires. The agricultural
officers carry out data entry, which is done manually, using Microsoft Excel and SPSS.
ASU/DAE of MoAI processes all raw data collected from the field and forwards it to the CBS for
further aggregation, analysis and final dissemination.
105 SSAQ Results.
106 Ibid
107 SSAQ Results and CBS, 2014a.
108 FAO, 2014c and IFAD, 2014.