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Global Strategy to Improve Agricultural and Rural Statistics

GSARSII Collaborates with Nigerian Bureau of Statistics and Federal Ministry of Agriculture on Agricultural Data Processing and Dissemination Workshop

20/06/2024

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMAFS), organized a pivotal workshop from February 12th to 24th, 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria under the second phase of the Global Strategy to Improve Agricultural and Rural Statistics (GSARSII). This workshop, aimed at modernizing agricultural data dissemination and introducing key training on Statistical Disclosure Control (SDC), marks a significant leap towards enhancing Nigeria’s agricultural data systems. 

Under the GSARS II dissemination package and the broader 50x2030 initiative, this joint training focused on sensitizing stakeholders to advanced dissemination strategies and validating the dissemination products for the National Agricultural Sample Census (NASC) 2022. FAO experts Neli Georgieva, Yakob Seid and George Omiat presented the NASC 2022 aggregated tabulated results and main validation routines. The results have been validated by the national experts participating in the workshop, representing NBS and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.  

The second part of the workshop centered on the preparation of the NASC 2022 Listing microdata, including defining and validating the microdata access model and organizing the next steps for authorization and data upload on the National Data Archive (NADA). 

Amsata Niang, expert statistician, led the second part of the mission which emphasized the importance of making agricultural statistics, particularly microdata, accessible as a public good. This access is important for enabling research, policy analysis, and evidence-based decision-making. 

The workshop’s activities included: 

  • High-level Discussion and Sensitization: Engagements on modern dissemination programs to improve access to data, emphasizing microdata sharing on the NADA platform. 
  • Validation of the 2024 Dissemination Program: A key step within the partnership of the 50x2030 initiative, focusing on agricultural data dissemination strategies. 
  • Release of NASC 2022 Listing Microdata: Outlining and validating the microdata access model, planning for data upload on NADA, and starting the documentation process. 
  • Introductory SDC Training: Essential training on microdata anonymization and documentation was provided, aiming to protect sensitive data while making it available for public use. 

  

The workshop was attended by 30 participants, including officials from various departments of the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMAFS), who actively engaged in the presentations and discussions. These discussions facilitated a shared understanding of the significance of agriculture in Nigeria and the importance of accurate agricultural data for policymaking. 

  

This joint mission has set a strong foundation for the official dissemination of the NASC data and represents a significant step forward in the development of Nigeria's agricultural data landscape. Both NBS and FMAFS have expressed their commitment to this project, recognizing the crucial role of agricultural data in enhancing policies and food security in Nigeria.