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Scope
Individual countries rely on statistical agriculture and food data for national
policy formulation and research. FAOSTAT data quality, in turn, depends to a
large degree on the quality of data reporting by Member Nations.
Member Nations have requested FAO's assistance in establishing or further
developing their own agricultural statistical information systems. CountrySTAT
is a pilot project launched by FAOSTAT to provide countries with methodologies
for compiling, verifying, validating, organizing, analyzing and disseminating
their national data related to agriculture and food for the purpose of
facilitating data use by national policymakers and researchers.
Objectives
The project seeks to strengthen capacity of Member Nations
to coordinate, harmonize and enhance the value of their data collections. It
provides countries with basic tools for verifying, validating and deriving
analytical indicators for uses such as food balance sheets or
supply/utilization accounts. It encourages coordination and consolidation among
various data collections at the national level.
| Core CountrySTAT, with sample satellite
modules |
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(click to enlarge)
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Framework
The CountrySTAT framework is based on the FAOSTAT framework in such a way that
the two will be able to interact.
Components
The CountrySTAT statistical systems will host detailed data not included in
FAOSTAT, such as geographical subdivisions, more detailed commodity data, and
data such as credit availability, food prices or land rental information.
CountrySTAT is a complementary system to FAOSTAT; outputs from CountrySTAT are
designed to load easily into FAOSTAT. This improves FAOSTAT's capacity to
provide high quality statistical data at the international level. It also
promotes exchanges of data within countries, between countries and between FAO
and countries. As with FAOSTAT, CountrySTAT will have a core statistical data
series surrounded by statistical metadata. The rigorous use of appropriate and
precise metadata will make it possible for CountrySTAT to utilize satellite
databases.
Functional modules
CountrySTAT will enable countries to set up functional statistical modules for
Inputs (collection of data), Management (processing of data), and Outputs
(Dissemination). A metadata repository with links to individual data items will
support and integrate with the three functional modules.
Thematic modules
Countries will use tailored thematic modules as required for national policy or
research. These modules will select data from various sources and combine them
to analyze a particular theme or area. Examples might include drought, food
security, blights and pests, a given administrative or geographical district,
nutrition, etc.
| CountrySTAT´s statistical modules |
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(click to enlarge)
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Pilot countries
The CountryStat project will initially produce prototype CountrySTAT modules for
testing in a limited number of countries. As part of the development process,
CountrySTAT will provide conceptual and technical support for creating and
implementing systems.
Once CountrySTAT has been piloted, countries will be encouraged to implement the
system. However, existing methods for data capture and transmittal to FAOSTAT
(paper questionnaires, the current Web-based virtual questionnaire, and
electronic files) will continue to be integrated into the FAOSTAT system.
Relation to FAOSTAT
As data from CountrySTAT will be transfered into FAOSTAT, country contributions
to international agriculture and food statistics will arrive from only one
source (They currently arrive from a variety of sources depending on the
country). CountrySTAT will initiate quality control steps at the country level
as part of the FAOSTAT data quality monitoring and evaluation system. The
benefits derived from improved national statistical systems
will be conveyed to FAOSTAT in the form of high quality data
contributions from those countries. Feedback from pilot countries will also
provide valuable indications to FAOSTAT on how to proceed in the development of
its systems.
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