Improving Agricultural Statistics in the COMCEC Region

under the mandate of the HCP. Finally, the HCP is also responsible for the coordination and

harmonization of statistics produced in Morocco.

The third partner in the statistical system is the Foreign Exchange Office (FEO), under the

supervision of the Ministry of Finance, which is responsible for foreign trade statistics and the

balance of payments. Compilation, processing, dissemination of foreign trade statistics, as well

as methodological and classification studies are under the responsibility of the FEO.

The

fourth partner is the High Commission for Water, Forests and Fight against Desertification

(HCEFLD), which is in charge of forest statistics. The fifth partner is the National Fishery Office

(ONP) which compiles statistics on fish production.

Finally there are various other organizations which, in close collaboration with MAPM,

contribute to compiling agricultural statistics. These include: the Ministry of Industry, Trade

and New Technology (MICNT) that conducts surveys on food prices and agricultural

industries; Office of Cereals and Pulses (ONICL) that collects prices for main cereals and pulses

(on a weekly basis), monthly data on official marketing, industrial processing, inventory levels

of grain, imports of grains and pulses; Autonomous Establishment of Control and Coordination

of Exports (EACCE); National Office of Food Safety and Control (ONSSA); National Meteorology

Directorate (DMN); and National Seed Marketing Enterprise (SONACOS).

Integration and Coordination of Agricultural Statistics:

The coordination of the

compilation and dissemination of agricultural statistics between the two main actors, MAPM

and HCP, is not conducted regularly; rather it depends on specific circumstances and

significant statistical activities, such as the general censuses/surveys of agriculture. It should

be noted that, on the other hand, the exchange of information between the various

departments of MAPM and HCP are regular.

Statistics Department of HCP is responsible for the development and promotion of the national

statistical system; standardization of concepts, harmonization and proper use of statistics in

the national statistical system; and the coordination of methodologies used in statistical work

conducted by the various partners. HCP and MAPM recently signed a cooperation framework

for the development of a satellite agriculture account.

HCP and FEO signed a partnership agreement to further develop and promote a number of

areas, such as: data exchange mechanisms; a framework for collection and compilation of

statistics on foreign trade; statistics on foreign trade in accordance with international

standards; capacity building on coordination and statistics relating to international trade, data

sharing and access to information produced by these two institutions; exchange of scientific

and technical experience in the areas of collection, processing and analysis of statistical data;

and implementation of international standards.

In MAPM, the responsibility for the production of agricultural statistics is divided between the

statistics division at headquarters and regional statistical offices. At the central level, the

MAPM, 2014a and HCP, 2014a.

FEO, 2014.

HCP, 2014b.