Improving Agricultural Statistics in the COMCEC Region

There is additionally five staff on average per province, resulting to about 170 staff in total for

all provinces.

Staff training is usually provided at the start of each new statistical operation. However, there

is a plan in the medium and long term to ensure that all staffs are trained. There is, however,

an overall limitation in terms of determining the training needs, job analysis and the types of

skills are required to achieve the current and planned statistical work.

Financial Resources:

There is no separate budget for agricultural statistics; however, the total

public budget allocated to the CSO in 2012 was 1,737,000 USD or equal to as low as

0.07 percent of Afghanistan’s public budget in 2012.

Physical Resources:

CSO and MAIL are well equipped with buildings, computers and

transport facilities, however, other institutional capacities of individual knowledge and

learning, organizational development and enabling environment are lacking.

iv.

Methodology Used in Agricultural Statistics

Sampling:

Surveys conducted are usually contracted to and administered by international

humanitarian and development agencies such as the WFP, FAO and other NGOs.

The sample size at each administrative unit is usually fixed according to the agricultural

importance of the unit concerned and to the diversity of the agricultural crops produced. The

total number of farmers per household survey annually (area sample and list) is estimated at

1,000 farmers per survey.

Data Collection:

The conventional method of data collection used is the questionnaire. MAIL

collects data from provinces on different subjects using administrative forms that are sent to

provinces or regular reporting systems. However, they conduct surveys in the provinces for

specific purposes and are generally project based. These subjects are in the area of research on

cultivation, improved seeds, livestock and production of crops, livestock diseases, agricultural

and veterinary, for the purpose of obtaining international and national assistance, directed at

agriculture cooperatives services and companies. Information on the weather conditions,

incomes generated by agriculture companies and agriculture-related manpower, according to

education and gender, are also collected.

MAIL collects data, used for analysis and planning purposes, from provinces on a regular basis,

primarily using a standard questionnaire and also through surveys. The questionnaire is sent

to provinces and sectorial departments of MAIL, through various communication channels.

The Ministry has recently developed an Monitoring Information System (MIS), which is

growing rapidly and uses a sophisticated software and database. This provides the required

data to other departments within MAIL.

The Statistical Cell has a clear communication

channel for the production and dissemination of agricultural data with departments within the

Ministry. However, the flow of data from provinces and sectorial departments is slow because

SSAQ Results.

Ibid

CSO, 2014b.

MAIL, 2014.