Quantitative data and indicators on agricultural activity

Abstract

Statistical coverage and quantitative presentation of agricultural activity are of particular importance for planning agricultural, strategic, and production activities. Food production is a fundamental existential condition, that is, the essence of the existence and development of the human population, as well as animal and plant life on Earth. For all the reasons mentioned above, it is utterly important to have adequate, valid, up-to-date, and comprehensive data and indicators. Obtaining such data is a complex, difficult, time-consuming, and relatively expensive process. If the data are missing, inaccurate, out-of-date, or if they are not collected properly, then all the analyses, estimates, forecasts, and plans are bound to contain errors, resulting in wrong conclusions, decisions, and ultimately leading to wrong solutions. The problem of missing data and the presence of outliers - atypical values is particularly emphasized. In this text the most important aspects of the quantitative (statistical) coverage of agricultural activity are presented. This primarily refers to the method of obtaining the data, which can be done as a complete or a partial observation, that is, sampling. The two methods are presented through censuses, surveying and sampling, with special reference to the upcoming comprehensive census of agriculture. The process of obtaining of indicators is presented in the text, with a special focus on descriptive statistical measures. Data and indicators according to the Global Strategy for the Improvement of Agricultural and Rural Statistics, as well as data and indicators of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), indicators of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and indicators of the World Bank and Eurostat are presented. Based on all the means of obtaining data, while respecting the constant need to align and harmonize the system of our agricultural statistics with the requirements of the European Union, as well as considering the experiences of all the mentioned (and most important) institutions for the production of statistical data in Europe and the world, a proposal of indicators and required data for quantitative presentation of agricultural activity in the Republic of Srpska is given. In addition, the need to introduce statistical registers of agriculture, that should enable continuous quantitative monitoring of agricultural activity, was particularly emphasized.