"Regional training on the documentation and archiving of Agricultural Censuses and Surveys” held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 7-11 February 2011

The first "Regional training on the documentation and archiving of Agricultural Censuses and Surveys” was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 7-11 February 2011. The objective of the workshop was to train participants from 15 countries on the use the Microdata Management Toolkit for the documentation of Agricultural Census and Surveys, and to initiate the documentation of their latest agricultural census.

Participants were from the following countries:

1. Algeria
2. Botswana
3. Comoros
4. Ethiopia
5. Gambia
6. Madagascar
7. Mozambique
8. Namibia
9. Rwanda
10. Seychelles
11. South Africa
12. Swaziland
13. Togo
14. Uganda
15. Yemen

All participants successfully documented their census. The Toolkit and associated standards (DDI, DCMI) promoted jointly by the IHSN and the FAO were very well received. Some participants requested further support at the national level.

Presentations by the Ethiopian CSA were delivered by Mr Yakob Mudesir, DDG, who briefed participants on documentation, archiving and dissemination at the CSA. The benefits and challenges associated with these activities were discussed. CSA is regarded as one of the most advanced agencies on these issues.

The IHSN/ADP Secretariat and the FAO Statistics Division have engaged in a joint activity of promoting good documentation and archiving of agricultural censuses. A second regional workshop is being organized later in February 2011 in Manila, Philippines. Both workshops target primarly non-ADP countries who did not document their latest agricultural censuses. The expected output is a better use of properly documented datasets and improved microdata management in national agencies in charge of agricultural statistics.