Improving Agricultural Statistics in the COMCEC Region
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4 Conclusion and Recommendations
The purpose of this study has been to assess the state of agricultural statistics in the COMCEC
Member Countries. The main conclusions and recommendations of this study are as follows:
4.1 Main Conclusions
 The need for agricultural statistics is increasing but in a new form, at the domestic and
international levels. The quantity of agricultural statistics produced is increasing in the
COMCEC Member Countries.. Nevertheless, agricultural statistics in the COMCEC
Member Countries are far from meeting the needs of the users, especially those
internationally.
 Response rates of COMCEC Members to the questionnaires for international databases,
such as FAOSTAT, in agricultural statistics are falling. It should be pointed out that it is
not the amount of data supplied, but the ratio of supply to the demanded data, and
data supplied at shortened deadlines is falling.
 International organizations’ databases have reached the critical threshold: These
organizations are understandably concerned with maintaining and sustaining their
databases. Therefore, new initiatives such as the Global Strategy to Improve Food and
Agriculture Statistics have been initiated to consolidate the efforts and financial
resources to build statistical capacities in the developing countries.
 Although true, this should not mean that the response rates of particularly COMCEC
Members and developing countries in general, are any worse than those of the
developed world. However, the reasons for non-response differ. In the case of the
developing world, it is most likely due to non-availability of the demanded data at the
demanded time. In the case of some developing or developed countries, it is more due
to the low priority in the agenda than the actual lack of data.
 Supply of agricultural statistics falling behind demand should also not lead one to
assume that statistics of other traditional sectors such as industry, social, education,
health, are better. It may be that some have already given up supplying data.
 Capacity building initiatives with financial support are far more effective than those
without. The small financial assistances mean more to African countries than the Arab
and Asian countries and hence provide more incentives for African participation.
Indeed, the African group is better in supplying data to international organizations
than the Arab group. The Asian group consists of a mix, i.e. that the CIS countries are
worse, while the East Asian countries are the best at supplying data. African countries
also tend to be more cooperative in the internationally funded initiatives than those in
Arab countries and Asia. To complete the picture, The AfDB and ADB are more active
in supporting statistical initiatives in their regions than IDB.