Agricultural Enumeration Census Launched

Addis Ababa, May 20(ENA)-- State Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development has called upon all stakeholders to make maximum use of the Agricultural Sample Enumeration data, which is the official agricultural statistics of the country. Over 200 million Birr has been spent on the census.

At the official launching here on Thursday of the Agricultural Sample Enumeration conducted by the Central Statistics Authority (CSA) in 2001/02, Belay Ejigu said the results obtained is believed to narrow the existing data gap and widen the scope and coverage.

Accordingly, since the studies carried out to gather agricultural related data have so far been necessary and useful, the current agricultural data would have a paramount importance for policy makers and other data users, Belay said.

"Above all, as the importance of Agricultural Development Led Industrialization (ADLI) and the country's strategy for poverty reduction highlights the role to be played by accurate and informative statistical and secondary analysis, the data could be the basis for solid and pertinent policy decision," he indicated.

Speaking on her part Samia Zekaria, Deputy Manager of CSA said the agricultural sample enumeration has covered crops growing in various seasons, size of ploughed land, different agricultural inputs, agricultural tools and animals, among others.

Samia further said an attempt was made to produce gender-disaggregated data on farm activities to roughly show women's contribution in the agricultural production processes.

Of 60,000 enumeration sites in the country 27 percent of the sample sites have been covered, head of natural resources and agricultural statistics with the authority Girma Tadesse said.

The data of the sample enumeration the head said will be particularly important for activities being carried out on woreda level in the form of input, adding there are plans to disseminate the data in the form of book, CD-Rom and web site for people here and abroad, Girma said.

Over 90 percent of the expense for the Agricultural Sample Enumeration was covered by the government and the balance by the European Union (EU) and donor organizations from America and Britain, he said.

The census has taken two years to complete, he said.

Pertinent bodies from the federal government and regions attended the one-day meeting held in Global Hotel.