Improving Agricultural Statistics in the COMCEC Region

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all the statistical activities it performs. There are 60 computers at headquarters and 80 in the

field offices.

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iv. Methodology Used in Agricultural Statistics

Sampling Frameworks:

Iran has a list of agricultural holders. An Agricultural Holder is a

layman or legal person who individually or jointly exercises management control over the

agricultural holding. These holders have technical and economic responsibilities for the

holdings as well as direct roles in the profits and losses. According to results of the Agricultural

Census 2003, there were around 4,3 million agricultural holders in the country, which

according to the Population Census 2011, decreased to 3.7 million. The area of total

agricultural land in the country is 17,665,203 hectares.

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Generally surveys employ a two-stage cluster sampling design where the sample village is the

primary sampling unit and the sample operators serve as the secondary sampling units. The

population surveyed is divided into sub-divisions. Considering an acceptable 5 percent error,

the number of villages in the sample is then determined. The samples are determined in each

class by using the optimum allocation method. In order to select the sample units during the

second stage, the sample villages are listed using spot checks so that the holder living in the

villages could be identified. At the end, non-resident beneficiaries are also listed. Finally, the

sample holders are chosen systematically.

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Data Collection:

The conventional method of data collection is still in force, using hardcopy

documents and questionnaires for all surveys. Data entry is conducted centrally at the CICT

headquarters.

Commodity Classification:

Iran uses up-to-date classification systems as shown in Table 69

below:

Table 69: Classification Systems Used in Iran

Classification

Version

ISIC (International Standard Industrial Classification)

Version 4

CPC (Central Product Classification)

Version 2

HS (Harmonized System)

Version 3 (2002)

SNA (System of National Accounting)

SNA93

Source: SSAQ Results.

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SSAQ Results.

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SCI, 2014 and MJA, 2014b.

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SCI, 2014 and MJA, 2014.