(Item 5 of the Agenda)
14. China’s agricultural statistical system covered such
aspects as agricultural and rural economic statistical institutions, force,
method, statistical contents and statistical analysis. The statistical work
mainly included crop production, animal husbandry, fishery, farm machinery, land
reclamation, township enterprises, rural economic benefits distribution,
agricultural products markets, forestry, agricultural census. Recently,
agribusiness had been added.
15. The statistical bodies at various levels in the Ministry
of Agriculture were complete and sound and the work force could basically
satisfy the need for statistical work development. It covered extensive reports
on the agricultural and rural economy, including crop production, animal
husbandry, fishery, farm machinery, land reclamation, township enterprises as
well as rural economic benefits distribution, agricultural production cost and
agricultural products circulation, price investigation and data collection, etc.
The statistical methods included, among others, all-round reporting, sampling
investigation, key investigation, investigation of typical models and remote
sensing.
16. While improvements had been made in the country’s
statistical system, it could still be strengthened if attention could be given
to the following concerns:
- Enriching the coverage of agribusiness statistics. Along with the
development of market economy and social progress, agribusiness would be playing
an important role in production and management activities. It would be necessary
to further enrich the contents of the agribusiness statistics, to include
such items that are market oriented, such as statistics in market circulation
of agricultural products.
- Improvement of statistical investigation methods. In order to improve
the statistical work under the new market economic conditions, it would be
important to improve the statistical investigation methods. Analyzing the
present condition in agriculture would be enhanced if sampling methods were
used in collecting agricultural statistics.
- Strengthening of statistical analysis capabilities. While China’s
agricultural statistical departments have accumulated abundant data and information
in agricultural statistics, it was stressed that the agricultural statistical
workers should make great efforts to further develop and analyze the data
and information. This could be done by the following:
- improvement of the analytical methodology;
- enhancing the inputs in analyzing work, covering manpower, capital
fund and materials, including ensuring a sufficient number of trained
staff in statistical analysis, and sufficient support in terms of capital
funds and materials;
- ensuring that statistical data collection and analysis are objective;
- statistical prediction and forecasting should be given attention
to sustain the stable development of China’s agricultural and rural
economy and keep phase with economic development trends.
