Improving Agricultural Statistics in the COMCEC Region
47
Table 33: Methodology Indicators and Scores
Indicator Score
Classifications 15
ISIC 1
CPC 1
SITC 1
HS 1
SNA93 1
EAA 2
Updatedness of EAA 0-3 (2010=1/2011=2/2012=3)
Availability of Register/List 2
Use of Register in Agriculture 3
Agricultural Census Methodology 13
Availability of Metadata 3
Availability of a Frame 2
Integration with Population Census 2
Full Census or Survey Full +Survey= 3 points;
Sample Survey: 2 points
Coverage Full Coverage: 3 points;
Partial Coverage: 1 point
Sources of Data See Table 31 12
Geographical Coverage See Table 31 10
Total Methodology 50
Resources: The responses to questions related to resources available for agricultural statistics
is not only unreliable but cannot be turned into indicators in order to make sense in relative
terms. In other words, it is not possible to ascertain what the optimal amounts are, and
whether “the more the better” scenario applies. This is a dimension that needs to be
significantly reconsidered in future surveys and capacity assessment indicators. Additionally,
the magnitudes of the available resources changes substantially per year, according to the
schedules of large surveys. What has been done in this study instead is to provide scores
according to whether the questions related to financial, human and physical resources were
answered, regardless of the content. Entering the index with a very low score implies that this
ranking is based not on the magnitude of resources available to agricultural statistics, rather
the availability of at least some information, which is not even available in many countries.
Table 34: Agricultural Resources Indicators and Scores
Indicators Score
Agricultural Statistics Budget 4
Staff 8
Total Professional Staff at HQ 2
Total Professional Staff at Field 2
Total Support Staff at HQ 2
Total Support Staff at Field 2
PCs Used for Agricultural Statistics 3
PCs at HQ 1.5
PCs at Regional Offices 1.5
Total Resources Max 15
Availability: Statistics compiled are of little use if they are not readily available to users. This
is why the availability dimension is weighted just over 30 percent in the IASD. It consists of
three indicators, namely the dissemination and formats of the statistics made public,
availability of a web based online database, and level of partnership with and activity within