Guidelines on Compiling

WORKING DRAFT

24 April 2012

GUIDELINES ON COMPILING

COUNTRY CAPACITY INDICATORS

TO PRODUCE AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS

Introduction

…………..To be written………………………..

Global Strategy needs
For monitoring progress over time
Mix of objective and subjective: self assessment
Ready tool for ranking countries
Responses to be validated through in-depth assessments , leading to more precise indicators.
On some indicators (resources) information in sufficient through self-reporting responses; supplementary information needed from addition published sources.

Structure ofIndicators

……..To come ……………………………..

Dimensions measured / Elements
Capacity Indicator I
Institutional Infrastructure
(PREREQUISITES) / 1.1Legal framework
1.2Coordination in Statistical System
1.3Strategic Vision and Planning
1.4Integration of Agriculture in the National Statistical System
1.5Relevance (user interface)
Capacity Indicator II
Resources
(INPUT DIMESNION) / 2.1 Financial Resources
2.2 Human Resources
Capacity Indicator III
Statistical Methods and Practices
(THROUGHPUT DIMENSION) / 3.1 Statistical software capability
3.2 Data capture technology
3.3 IT infrastructure
3.4 International Classifications
3.5 General Statistical Activities
3.6 Agricultural Market and Price Information
3.7 Agricultural surveys
3.8 Analysis and use of data
Capacity Indicator IV
Availability of Statistical Information
(OUTPUT DIMENSION) / 4.1 Core data availability
4.2 Timeliness
4.3 Quality, reliability and consistency of data
4.4 Data Accessibility
4.5 Quality Consciousness

Indicator qualities and correspondence with other similar indicators

…..to be written……

Robust: capture ranking
SMART
Cover the entire production line: infrastructure to output, follow on TQM concepts
In line with other existing frameworks
Based on self-reporting questionnaire: could be easily repeated over time without much investment and costs

Indicator definitions, relevant questions and the scoring criteria

Capacity indicator I:Institutional Infrastructure

A number of pre-conditions are needed for smooth and efficient functioning of any system. All public stsstitical activities need a legal authority to undertake the operations of field data collection. The legal frame work for statistical operations in country also defines ”who is responsible for doing what?”. It is not uncommon to see that a number of agencies are involved in collection of statistics on a sectors. Thus there is a need for coordination of national efforts with a view to reducing not only the cost, effort and response burden but also to avoid duplicate and inconsistent statistics. Integration of agriculture statistics in the national statistical system provides greater scope of analysis of data. Mechanisms to maintain channels of communication between data producers and data users ensures that data collected by the stsstitical systems remains relevant to the needs of policy making.

This indicator provides a summary of measurements on the five main elements of the dimension relating to intuitional infrastructure as defined below. The overall score on this indicator is taken as the Geometric mean of the scores on the five indicators which measure the five elements of this dimension of the quality of the agriculture statistical system. Geometric mean (GM) has been chosen specifically to highlight the weakness in the system. In calculation of the GM equal weight is assigned to the score on each of the elements.

1.1Legal framework

Thelegal framework and enabling legislation is a fundamental prerequisite of any statistical systems. The legal framework defines the mandate of the statistical agency, its reporting relationship to government, responsibilities, the use and application of sound statistical practices, legalauthorityfor collecting data and conduct surveys, and most importantly the legislative authority to protect the confidentialityof individually identifiable information collected for statistical purposes.

Relevant Questions

1.2.1Is there a legal or statutory basis for statistical activities in the country in general?

If “Yes” to 1.2.1, Is it operational?

1.2.2 Does there exist a legal basis for collection of agricultural statistics?

12.2a If “Yes” to 1.2.2, how adequate is the legal framework for agriculture statistics?

Please answer with a code. (1) Fully (2) Workable (3) Somewhat adequate (4) Somewhat inadequate (5) Totally inadequate

Scoring criteria

Max. Score=5 marks
If. 1.2.1 / Yes / 1 mark
No / 0 marks
Operational / Yes / 1 mark
No / 0 marks
If. 1.2.2 / Yes / 1 mark
No / 0 marks
If 1.2.2a / Fully adequate / 2 marks
Workable / 2 marks
Somewhat adequate / 1 mark
Somewhat inadequate / 0 marks
Totally inadequate (inapplicable) / 0 marks

Indicator= (Country Score/ Maximum Marks) x 100

1.2Coordination in Statistical System

Most countries require a statistical coordinating authority because multiple governmental organizations are often involved in the collection of data on agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. A coordination mechanismalso ensures that the various data producers adhere to a common set of standards.Compliance with the standards established by the coordinating authority prevents duplication of efforts as well as the publication of conflicting data from different reporting agencies. The coordination mechanisms also provide a common forum for securing resources for the agriculture statistics system and the governance it provides enables the ministries and agencies involved in the collection of agricultural data to integrate agriculture into the preparation of national strategies for the development of statistics.

Relevant Questions

1.2.3 Does there exist an active National Statistics Council, Board or Committee? (Tick if Yes)

1.2.4 If ’’Yes’’ to 1.2.3, does the mandate of the National Statistics Council, Board or Committee cover:

1.2.4.a Crop and livestock statistics?

1.2.4.b Forestry and environment statistics?

1.2.4.c Aquaculture and fishery statistics?

1.2.4.d Water resource statistics?

1.2.4 e Rural development statistics?

Scoring criteria

Max. Score= 5 marks
If. 1.2.3 / Yes / No Mark
No / 0 marks
If. 1.2.4 / Yes (all) / 5 marks
1.2.4 a / Crop and livestock statistics? / 1 mark
1.2.4.b / Forestry and environment statistics? / 1 mark
1.2.4.c / Aquaculture and fishery statistics? / 1 mark
1.2.4.d / Water resource statistics? / 1 mark
1.2.4.e / Rural development statistics? / 1 mark

Indicator = (Country Score/ Maximum Marks) x 100

1.3Strategic Vision and Planning

Statistical offices exist in order to provide current statistical information. But long-run sustainability and growth of their activities depends, first and foremost, on their ability to evolve and adapt to the socio-economic developments in the country, new and emerging government priorities, and annual government budget allocations.

A strategic vision and planning system is essential for bringing together the relevant external signals (including budget parameters) and the proposed internalresponses to them. While a strategy sets the direction and path of development, selected on the basis of conscious choices made under a give set of constraints, a plan is needed to implement the strategy in a phases manner so that the overall objectives are achieved. Size of the plan may be adjusted depending upon the resource availability on year-to- year basis but a strategy remains fairly stable over its life time.

Thestrategy should include the identification of priority areas for development and investment,and areas to be de-emphasized, as well as procedural guidance on for example how large an efficiency gain is expected from each area, how large a sliceof the program must be identified as having relatively lower priority,what are the investments needed in order to realizethe efficiencies.

Strategic vision should be addressing a long list of issues that include the development of national strategies for statistics and where such strategies are in place, review them to determine where revisions are needed. It also includes building a network of statisticians and supporting staff including data collectors. The education of staff on statistical methodology for sampling, survey design, data compilation, and data analysis is another key component as is the implementation of an integrated survey framework, and data management system. The acquisition and replacement programs for vehicles, computers, software, and other technicalequipment is another strategic issue as is the need to develop a vision for disseminating data and responding to requests.

The strategic vision should also include an effective means of avoiding duplication of effort, of profiting from potential synergies and of benefiting from available infrastructure.

Relevant Questions

1.4.6 Does there exist any national Strategy/Plan/Programme specific to agriculture sector?

1.4.7 If ‘’Yes‘’ to 1.4.6, is agriculture sector strategy integrated into the NSDS?

1.4.8 If ‘’No’’ to 1.4.6, is its design in process or intended?

Use Codes: 1=Under development ; 2=Planned; 3=Not planned

Scoring criteria

Max. Score= 6 marks
If. 1.4.6 / Yes / 3 marks
No / 0 marks
If 1.4.7 / Yes / 3 marks
No / 0 marks
If 1.4.8 / Under development / 2 marks
Planned / 1 mark
Not planned / 0 marks

Indicator = (Country Score/ Maximum Score) x 100

1.4Integration of Agriculture in the National Statistical System

The governance of statistical capacity and its development across various ministries and agencies collecting and publishing agriculture statistics are critical to any successful integration initiative.In most countries statistical responsibilities are decentralized and ministries of agriculture produce the agriculture statistics. There does not, however, appear to be any advantage between centralized and decentralized statistical systems.National Statistical Offices have experienceapplying statistical methods and using sample frames, experience that line ministries often lack. Line ministries are, however, likely to have greater technical knowledgeabout agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and land use and perhaps field staff to undertake frequent statistical activities.

The integration of agricultural statistics into a country’s national statistical system does not mean that all responsibilitiesfall on the national statistical office, the ministry ofagriculture, or any other agency in particular. It does, however,mean that the organizations with overlapping dataneeds accept a common vision, concepts, and definitions, a master sample frame, an integrated surveyframework, and database principles.

Integrating agriculture into the national system changes the focus of statistical capacity building. This capacity buildingwould focus on strategies and actions to integrate agricultural statistics into the national statisticalsystem makingagriculture a key element of thenational strategies for the development of statistics.

Relevant Questions

1.4.1 Does the country have a National Strategy, Plan or Programme for the development of statistics (e.g. National Strategy for Development of Statistics (NSDS) or National Action/Master Plan)?

1.4.5 If “Yes” to 1.4.1, does the strategy include programme of work for the sub-sector relating to: (Tick the relevant one)

1.4.5.a Crop and livestock statistics

1.4.5.b Fishery and aquaculture statistics

1.4.5.c Forestry and environment statistics

1.4.5.d Water resources

1.4.5.e Rural development

1.4.6 Does there exist any national Strategy/Plan/Programme specific to agriculture sector?

1.4.7 If ‘’Yes‘’ to 1.4.6, is agriculture sector strategy integrated into the NSDS?

3.1.5 Were the questions on the participation in agricultural or related activities of the household (agricultural holding) included in the questionnaire used in the last population census?

3.5.1.6 The last agricultural census covered: (Tick the appropriate row from the list below, as applicable )

Crops

Livestock

Aquaculture

Fishery

Forestry related to agriculture

Water related to agriculture

Other income generating activities in rural area

3.5.1.7.a The Agricultural Census used the cartographic material and administrative boundaries used for the population census?

3.5.1.7.b Few questions to collect information on participation of household in agriculture sector were included in the population census, to get sampling frame for agricultural census or a detailed module?

Scoring criteria

Max. Score=10 marks
1.4.1 / No / 0 marks
If 1.4.5a / Yes / 1 mark
If 1.4.5b / Yes / 1 mark
If 1.4.5c / Yes / 1 mark
If 1.4.5d / Yes / 1 mark
If 1.4.5e / Yes / 1 mark
No / 0 marks
If 1.4.7 / Yes / 1 mark
No / 0 marks
If 3.1.5 / Yes / 1 mark
No / 0 marks
If 3.5.1.6 / If it covered any of the fishery, aquaculture, forestry, water , rural activities domains / 1 mark
If it covered only crops and livestock. / 0 marks
If 3.5.1.7a / Yes / 1 mark
No / 0 marks
If 3.5.1.7 b / Yes / 1 mark
No / 0 marks

Indicator = (Country Score/ Maximum Score) x 100

Please note that the scoring criteria give greater credit to statistical programs with a wide coverage of subsectors within the statistical planning process.

1.5Relevance (User interface)

The relevance of statistical information reflects the degree to which it meets the real needs of clients. It is concerned with whether the available information sheds light on the issues of most importance to users.Assessing relevance is a subjective matter dependent upon the varying needs of users. The challengeis to weigh and balance the conflicting needs of current and potential users to produce a program that goes asfar as possible in satisfying the most important needs within given resource constraints.

Relevant Questions

1.5.1 Does there exist an official forum for dialogue between suppliers and users of agricultural statistics (also including water, environment, forestry, fisheries, and rural development) in the country?

1.5.2 If ‘’Yes’’ to 1.5.1, are regular meetings of such a forum held?

1.5.3 If ‘’No’’ to 1.5.1, is there at least an informal forum for dialogue between producers and users of agricultural statistics?

1.5.4 Are there well established channels for receiving feedback from users of agricultural statistics (web contact, e-mails, etc.)?

1.5.5 If “Yes” to 1.5.1, 1.5.3 or 1.5.4, what is your assessment of the level of dialogue between users and producers. Use Codes: 1= Extensive; 2= Adequate; 3=Moderate; 4=Somewhat; 5=Inadequate

1.5.6 If ‘’Yes’’ to 1.5.1 or 1.5.3, please indicate which of the following are represented in the forum (formal or informal)?

1.5.6.a Planning bodies (Ministry of Planning or National Planning Commission)

1.5.6.b Ministry of Finance/Treasury

1.5.6.c Line ministries and departments (like Water Resources, Environment, Forestry,Fisheries)

1.5.6.d Central Bank

1.5.6.e Representatives of academic and research community

1.5.6.f Chamber of commerce

1.5.6.g Media

1.5.6.h Representatives of socio- professional bodies

1.5.6.i Private sector representatives

1.5.6.j Development partners (Donors, NGO’s, etc.)

1.5.6.k Other, specify

Scoring criteria

Max. Score=11 marks
If. 1.5.1 / Yes / 1 mark
No / 0 marks
If 1.5.2 / Yes / 1 mark
No / 0 marks
If 1.5.3 / Yes / 1 mark
No / 0 marks
If 1.5.4 / Yes / 1 mark
No / 0 marks
If 1.5.5 / Extensive/ Adequate / 2 marks
Moderate/ Somewhat / 1 mark
Inadequate / 0 marks
If 1.5.6 / Give one mark to Yes to anyone in the cluster below.
Planning bodies,,Ministry of Finance/Treasury/ Central Bank / 1 mark
Line ministries and departments / 1 mark
Representatives of academic and research community/ Representatives of socio- professional bodies / 1 mark
Media/Chamber of commerce / 1 mark
Private sector representatives Development partners (Donors, NGO’s, etc.) / 1 mark

Indicator = (Country Score/ Maximum Marks) x 100

Capacity Indicator II: Resources

This indicator is critical to show whether country has adequate resources to undertake the statistical activities. The two most important resources needed for undertaking statistical activities involving field data collection are existence of qualified permanent manpower to plan and lead the execution of activities and financial resources to hire the temporary manpower and meet incidental expenditure.

Data available from self-reporting questionnaires of Country Assessment has been insufficient to compile these Indicators. These indicators are prposed to Complied through in-depth assessment using also the budgetary and macro-economic data.

2.1 Financial Resources

Adequate funding is a prerequisite for all national statistics programs. Statistical offices in both developed and developing countries Governments especially governments of developing countries struggle with their development priorities. As statistical programs do not produce one bowl of rice, build one road, save a life, or teach a child, they face stiff competition for scarce government funds. For a number of years the government priorities for the collection and reporting of reliable agriculture statistics has also been paralleled by a general lack of donor interest.

Agriculture statistics face an additional dilemma as they are often outside the national statistics system. The system for agriculture and food statistics is often fragmented, with responsibility divided among the ministries of for example, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, land, and water.

Few developing countries have invested adequate funding into food and agriculture statistics to keep up with the increasing demand for reliable statistics on the sector. Assessing whether or not government funding for agriculture and food statistics is a challenge. Although the level of funding is a key indicator of whether funding may be adequate it does not on its own a provide a definitive answer.

The assessment of whether a statistical program is adequately funded is complex. Data collection costs represent one of the largest costs of a statistical operation. Countries with extensive administrative data bases, highly educated populations and the ability to survey by telephone or Internet have distinct advantages in data collection over those who do not and who must conduct most surveys in the field using face-to-face personal interviews.

Given that the data on financial resources budgets are often coming from many line ministries and departments within a country, coordination of the country’s response often appears to be a challenge when two or more agencies accept responsibility to answer some of the same questions but provide different information. It has consequently been difficult to come up with consistent and reliable indicators at this stage of the assessment process. More reliable indicators should, however, be available from the proposed in-depth assessments and, in the future, from a revised version of the questionnaire. However, once reliable data are available, the indicators suggested below could be used. These would need additional information from the National Accounts of the country, usually accessible on the web.

Relevant Questions

Financial resources[1](for the current year in local currency)
Name of currency used for reporting: ......
Exchange rate at the beginning of the current financial year: 1 US$ =...... local currency
Total / Of which for agricultural statistics
3.11.1 / Total national budget for statistical activities (estimate)
3.11.1a / National regular budget for staff activities
3.11.1b / National regular budget for staff training
3.11.1c / National regular budget for non-staff activities
(travel, consultancies, IT purchases etc.).
3.11.2 / Total project budget for statistical activities (estimate)

Additional Data needed:

GDP
GDP from Agriculture

Indicator1: Total NSO budget for statistical activities, as percentage of GDP, broken down by different ministries/departments

Indicator2: Share of agriculture statistics in NSO Budget

Indicator3: Share of agriculture statistics in NSO person years

Indicator4: Share of Statistics in the budget of Ministry of Agriculture

Indicator4: Budget of Ministry of Agriculture as percentage of GDP from Agriculture

Scores: Presented in slabs: to be prepared after calculation of data from all countries.