Development Constraint to be Addressed:

Agriculture is one of the most important sectors of the Georgian economy. Thus, the development and implementation of an appropriate agricultural policy is an important factor for the overall economic development of the country. In preparing such a policy, the absence of reliable and timely information on the agricultural sector is a major constraint. The Government has therefore decided to conduct a national agricultural census in 2004 to provide benchmark data on the structure of the agricultural sector and to form the basis for an improved agricultural statistics system in Georgia. The European Commission (EC) and other donors have agreed to assist the Georgian government (in the form of budgetary support) in conducting the agricultural census in 2004. However, there is an urgent need for technical assistance in the form of advisory services and training to ensure the census methodology is sound and in line with FAO’s recommendations and to ensure that the national staff has the necessary skills to successfully carry out the census design, organisation and implementation.

Development objective:

The objective of the project is to support the preparations for the Agricultural Census 2004 and strengthen national services capacities to collect, process, analyse and disseminate reliable and timely agricultural statistics for development planning and policy decision making.

Immediate objectives:

The project is expected to determine census data requirements and priorities; prepare a report on the methodology to be used for the Agricultural Census 2004; prepare, test and finalize census instruments taking into account the need for gender disaggregated data; prepare a detailed plan for the implementation of the census; build capacities of national staff in census planning, organization and implementation and improve the methodology and implementation procedures for the ‘on-going’ statistical system.