Improving Agricultural Statistics in the COMCEC Region
122
Statistical Domain Date of most
recent data118
Source of Data Geographical
Coverage
Responsible
Agency
Agricultural
Credit
2012 Administrative National & sub-
national
MJA
Fertilizers 2013 Administrative National & sub-
national
MJA & MIMT
Pesticides 2013 Administrative National & sub-
national
MJA & MIMT
OTHER INDICATORS Latest Year Available
Agricultural GDP 2012
Rural Income 2011
Index of Agricultural Input Prices 2013
Food Balance Sheets NA
Agricultural/Rural income Distribution 2011
Land Distribution 2012
Source: SSAQ; MJA, 2014b; IRICA, 2014 and SCI, 2014.
iii. Resources of the Agricultural System
The quantity and quality of statistical staff and the development of ICT are two important
indicators for resources of the agricultural statistics system. All subjects to produce sufficient
agricultural statistics require efficient statistical staff. A large number of staffs working on
agricultural statistics at SCI and CICT of MJA was educated and is skilled in an outdated IT
environment that is disappearing (not just in developed economies, but also in developing
countries). The statistical methodologies that are used also predate the internet. Hence, it is
perceived that a re-education of the statistical staff is crucial to transform and increase the
statistical capacity of the staff and the organizations.
Agricultural statistics in Islamic Republic of Iran are gathered mainly by CICT of MJA with
methodological support provided by SCI.119 Additionally, MIMT and The Islamic Republic of
Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) also play roles in compiling the agricultural statistics in
the country. Furthermore, the Central Bank of Iran also provides some estimation on
agricultural prices for the calculation of the Balance of Payments.
Human Resources: The number of staff for agricultural statistics in MJA is 189, including 57
staffs with technical capacity, of which 56 percent work in regional offices. Additionally, MJA
hires contracted enumerators to conduct data collection for the duration of each survey.120
Financial Resources: The allocation of general financial resources for the production of
agricultural statistics is difficult to estimate. However, available financial resources are
generally used by SCI to develop the methodology, and by MJA to compile and disseminate the
statistics. The estimated budget for data collection is around 1 million USD.121
Physical Resources: MJA, both at the central and regional levels, have sufficient IT resources
(including workstations, statistical software, internet connections, GIS station, etc.) to handle
119 SCI, 2014 and MJA, 2014.
120 SSAQ Results.
121 Ibid