FAO helps Armenia build comprehensive agricultural information systems
Workshop participants were introduced to the new, cost-effective approach of the Agricultural Integrated Survey Programme
Data users including statisticians, government officials, representatives of the Agrarian University, and others came together today to discuss the situation of agricultural information systems in Armenia. Topics of the FAO workshop included the national agricultural statistical system, the requirements for an effective agricultural information system, and the priority needs and data gaps of the main data users.
A new and cost-effective system, the Agricultural Integrated Survey Program was presented as well. Based on today’s discussions, needs will be prioritized and taken into consideration when designing the new agricultural survey programme.
The workshop is an element of FAO’s technical assistance programme to the Ministry of Agriculture and the Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia, funded by the European Union.
The new survey programme will be a modular programme, designed for national statistical agencies to accelerate the production of quality data on technical, economic, environmental and social dimensions.
“The workshop has identified data needs for agricultural information in Armenia and provided critical information necessary for designing a new system of agricultural surveys in the country,” said Michael Steiner, agricultural statistician of FAO. “Following the completion of the first agricultural census (2014), a new system of agricultural surveys is being designed to build a comprehensive agricultural information system for Armenia, following FAO’s internationally accepted methodology.”
Also, a new sampling strategy was introduced to the participants by FAO international expert Vasile Petre. The latter will support the Statistical Committee in developing the strategy in the coming week.
The data user workshop will be followed by a training for staff of the National Statistics Service – including representatives from all regions of Armenia – on survey methodology.