In response to a growing demand for high-quality and internationally-comparable statistics, FAO develops, implements and promotes methods and standards to guide national data producers in generating and using sound statistics. In particular, the Organization is committed to provide national statistical systems with internationally recognized definitions, concepts and classifications as well as methodological guidance for the production of high quality statistics related to food and agriculture.
This interface allows you to search for statistical classifications, guidelines and handbooks, technical reports, working papers and methodological documents, and capacity development resources. You can search by SUBJECT (general, agriculture, forestry, fishery and aquaculture, and natural resources) or use the ADVANCED SEARCH to search by keyword, country, language and lead authoring unit/office. Comments, suggestions and inquiries can be addressed to: [email protected].
You can access here all the statistical guidelines and handbooks, technical reports, working papers and methodological documents, and capacity development resources.
Type a keyword in the free text search box or refine your search by keyword, country, language and lead authoring unit/office.
Comments, suggestions and inquiries can be addressed to: [email protected].
Abstract: At the end of each census round, FAO reviews and assesses national census practices, methodologies and results, and summarizes the findings in methodological publications, under the Statistical Development Series (SDS). For the WCA 2010 round (2006–2015), these assessments have been presented in two separate publications. The first one, titled “Main results and metadata by country” (SDS 17), published in 2019, presented a compendium of census metadata and main results for a record number of 127 countries and territories. The SDS 18, i.e. this publication, presents in its first part (Chapters 1 to 12) a methodological review of the national censuses. In its second part (Chapter 13), it illustrates global comparable data on key variables characterizing the structure of agriculture. The global review of census results includes key structural variables that are not available elsewhere. Some examples are number and area of holdings, land tenure and holder gender. Other variables are land size classes, average holding sizes, legal status of holders, household sizes, source of farm labour, land use and operated land.
Lead authoring unit/office: Statistics Division (ESS)
Abstract: This publication, which is part of FAO Statistical Development Series, is a compendium of reviews of country agricultural censuses conducted during the WCA 2010 round (which covers the period 2006–2015) and their main results. Apart from providing information on historical background, legal, institutional frameworks and international collaboration, the publication also provides an overview of the census staff, reference and enumeration periods, scope and coverage, methodological modalities, frame, data collection methods, questionnaires used, new technology used, data processing and archiving, and census data quality and dissemination. Data sources and contact information is provided for each country. These concise two-page overviews of national censuses present a unique panorama of country practices on agricultural censuses to which national census agencies can refer when planning their censuses.
Lead authoring unit/office: Statistics Division (ESS)
Abstract: Prepared by the Global Strategy to improve agricultural and rural statistics (GSARS), this training material on the collection of small-scale fishery and aquaculture statistics is designed to bring together the persons within national statistical systems who are responsible for producing small-scale fishery and aquaculture statistics. The training therefore targets decision-makers in agriculture or fishery ministries and National Statistical Offices (NSOs), survey managers, trainers of field staff, data analysts, researchers, teaching staff and students at training centres of statistics and agriculture or fisheries. The training topics covered by the training material are the following: 1. Building a frame of SSF and aquaculture households through population or agriculture censuses ‒ Screening questionnaires to identify SSF and aquaculture households during the census; 2. Survey designs for collecting household and community data for SSF and aquaculture through the household approach.
Lead authoring unit/office: Statistics Division (ESS)
Abstract: Volume 2 is a revised and updated edition of “Conducting Agricultural Censuses and Surveys”, published by FAO in 1996. The revision is opportune not only in view of the recent publication of the new census programme and methodology but also in view of the substantial changes witnessed in the census technological environment over the last two decades. The availability of digital, mobile and more affordable tools for data capture, geo-positioning, remote sensing imaging, digital archiving and online dissemination have provided new cost-effective alternatives to traditional ways of conducting the agricultural census. This publication is part of FAO Statistical Development Series.
Lead authoring unit/office: Statistics Division (ESS)
Abstract: Prepared by the Global Strategy to Improve Agricultural and Rural Statistics (GSARS), this training material is designed for managers, statisticians, sampling experts, GIS specialists and professional staff from the National Statistical Offices and statistical units of the Ministries of Agriculture. At the end of this session, the audience will: a) Know the utility of area frame and is able to identify the main types; b) Know the differents steps required to build an area sampling frame and do a pratical exercise; c) Be able to choose between different segment area methodologies taking into account the reality of the countries; d) Know how to avoid the source of non-sampling errors when designing an area frame; and e) Be able to make link between census or administrative data and an area frame.
Lead authoring unit/office: Statistics Division (ESS)
Abstract: Prepared by the Global Strategy to Improve Agricultural and Rural Statistics (GSARS), this report introduces the problem of reconciling agricultural census and survey data by exploring methods to recalculate the survey weights, focusing on how to combine information from agricultural censuses.
Lead authoring unit/office: Statistics Division (ESS)
Abstract: Prepared by the Global Strategy to Improve Agricultural and Rural Statistics (GSARS), this technical report illustrates the quality of current surveys and censuses, indicating those that are more suitable for inclusion of a woodfuel module; and introduces a Woodfuel Supplementary Module that covers the most relevant aspects of woodfuel consumption and production.
Lead authoring unit/office: Statistics Division (ESS)
Abstract: Prepared by the Global Strategy to improve agricultural and rural statistics, this training material aims to provide basic knowledge and skills in agricultural statistics to data producers, in particular to statisticians with no or limited background in agriculture statistics, and to economists or agronomists with some basic knowledge in statistics. This module describes all the processing and analysis operations on a data set to obtain the desired information from a source such as a census, sample survey or administrative record. It also covers concepts relating to area and yield, resulting in methods of evaluating production and crop forecasting.
Lead authoring unit/office: Statistics Division (ESS)
Abstract: Prepared by the Global Strategy to Improve Agricultural and Rural Statistics (GSARS), this technical paper reviews the literature on the methodologies for reconciling data from agricultural censuses and surveys. The techniques that can be used for data reconciliation are described, and the main advantages and disadvantages of each are assessed. On the basis of the literature, for each relevant methodology, this paper formulates recommendations to be considered in the reconciliation of census and survey data. It also provides a gap analysis that documents and assesses the differences between the various methods.
Lead authoring unit/office: Statistics Division (ESS)
Abstract: Prepared by the Global Strategy to Improve Agricultural and Rural Statistics (GSARS), these guidelines describe a method that can be employed to accurately capture the actual contribution of small-scale fisheries and aquaculture to rural communities. In principle, the basic structure of these survey stages follows the concepts adopted by the World Census of Agriculture, including the modular approach, to enhance utility and reduce implementation costs.
Lead authoring unit/office: Statistics Division (ESS)
