1. Ethiopian Annual Agricultural Sample Survey Methodology and Experience
CENTRAL STATISTICAL AGENCY
Ethiopian Annual Agricultural Sample Survey Methodology and Experience
By Habekiristos Beyene
Agriculture, Natural Resource and
Environmental Statistics Directorate
Addis Ababa, August, 2012

2. Contents Field Organization Introduction
Initiation of Annual Agricultural Sample Surveys
Modules of the Annual Agricultural Sample Survey
Contents of the Survey
Area and Sector Coverage
Sample Design and Sample Size
6.1 Sample Selection
Field Organization
Training Of Field Staff
Method Of Data Collection
Dissemination of the Survey Results
List of statistical Bulletins Generated from the Annual Agri. Sample Survey
Implementation of Global Strategy in Ethiopia

3. 1. Introduction Ethiopia is a country with agrarian economy, where
Agriculture is the dominant sector of the country’s Economy, as a matter of this fact,
The sector contributes (Nearly 45%) to the country’s GDP
It employs 82% of the country’s total population, who solely depends on agriculture for their livelihood
It is the main source Of the domestic food supply and Raw materials for domestic Agro-Industries

4. Why do we need continues, comprehensive, reliable and timely supply of quantitative information?
Because statistical information with regard to agriculture are indispensable input
To evaluate and monitor the performance of the sector itself
To formulate promotional agricultural policy and programs
To design, plan and execute developmental agricultural projects,
To monitor and evaluate the ongoing agricultural projects and programs and …etc

5. 2. Initiation of Annual Agricultural Sample Surveys (AGSS)
Three decades earlier, statistical information regarding the agricultural sector were rarely available in Ethiopia,
Due to limitation of both coverage and methodology used the information generated during those days were inadequate and unreliable.
In addressing the problems mentioned, in 1980 “Integrated System of Food and Agricultural Statistics (ISFAS)’’ the UNDP/FAO project, was initiated in Ethiopia.

6. Thus, from 1980 on wards Ethiopia/CSA has been conducting the agricultural sample survey on annual bases.
Here it should be noted that in addition to conducting the annual agricultural sample surveys, the country had performed the first ever agricultural sample enumeration in 2001/02
Since then every three and/or four years the CSA used to improve the content, coverage and methodologies of the annual agricultural sample surveys.

7. 3. Modules of the Annual Agricultural Sample Survey (AGSS)
1. Main (Meher) season Pre-harvest Crop Production Forecast Sample Survey
2. Main (Meher) season Post-harvest agricultural Sample survey
3. Livestock and poultry Sample Survey
4. Belg(Minor) Season Crop production Sample Survey
5. Large and Medium Scale Commercial Farms Sample Survey

8. 4. Contents of the Survey
The range of data items includes
Area and production of both temporary and permanent crops,
Land use i.e. total cropland area, fallow land, grazing land, forest land and …etc,.
Agricultural practices, such as use various inputs
Number of livestock and poultry by type, purpose, age and sex
It should be noted that all the above mentioned data items are first identified in consultation with all data users and concerned stakeholders

9. 5. Area and Sector Coverage
The Annual Agricultural Sample Survey covered
The entire rural parts of the country except the non-sedentary population of Pastoral areas
Both private peasant and large and medium scale commercial farms agricultural holdings including Co-operatives’

10. 6. Sample Design and Sample Size
A stratified two-stage cluster sample design was implemented, where,
Enumeration areas (EAs) were taken to be the primary sampling units (PSUs) and the secondary sampling units (SSUs) were agricultural households.
The sample size is determined by taking into account of both the required level of precision for the most important estimates within each domain and the amount of resources allocated to the survey.
All the regions of the country which are eleven in number were taken to be the domain of estimation for which major findings of the survey are reported.

11. 6.1 Sample Selection
First Stage sample selection of EAs was done by probability proportional to size (PPS).
Size is the total number of households compiled from the 2007 (1999 E.C.) population and housing census.
Second Stage sample (household) selection was done by systematic random sampling.
Currently 30 agricultural Households were sampled from each EA selected to be covered by the survey

12. 7. Field Organization
Through its 25 Branch offices the CSA has put in place a comprehensive field organization to follow up and monitor the survey field work.
Currently, one supervisor is assigned to closely supervise and follow up the work of enumerators
Annually, field enumerators, are recruited, trained and assigned in the sampled EAs by each of the respective Branch Offices.
All the technical personnel, heads of the 25 Branch Offices as well as field supervisors and enumerators were fully involved.

13. 8. Training Of Field Staff
The quality of data acquired from the survey highly depend on the type of training given,
The CSA provides theoretical and practical training at various stages to its field staff
The content of the training focuses on detailed classroom instruction on the purpose, terminology, concepts and definitions used in the survey undertaking followed by field practices.

14. 9. Method Of Data Collection
The CSA adopted both subjective and objective method of data collection in its annual agricultural sample surveys.
a) Agricultural data collected using objective method are:-
Land area under Crop,
Crop Yield through conducting Crop cutting experiment from 2 mts x 2 mts plot of land,
Land Utilization (Area under different land use).

15. b) Data collected through interview method are:-
Demographic characterstics of the sampled agricultural households
Data on agricultural inputs such as use fertilizers, local and improved seeds, use of pesticides, herbicides, and use of irrigation,
Quantity and Cost of agricultural inputs
Livestock, poultry and beehives enumeration and their products by type.

16. 10. Dissemination of the Survey Results
The results of the Annual Agricultural Sample
Survey are disseminated to ultimate users’ through
Hard copy:- The CSA distribute the Hard copies to the concerned stakeholders, made few copies available at the library for free use and put enough copies at CSA store for sale.
CD:-Softcopy of the survey results are also made available on CDs to ultimate users
Web Site:- Softcopy of the survey results are also released for free use through the CSA web site.

17. 11. List of statistical Bulletins Generated from the Annual Agri
11. List of statistical Bulletins Generated from the Annual Agri. Sample Survey
Sr. No
Name of The Bulletin
Frequency 1
Report on Area and Crop Production Forecast Forecast
Every Year 2
Report on Post- harvest Estimates of Area and Production of Major Crops (Main Season)
>> >> 3
Report on Post- harvest FarmManagewment ppractices of Private holdings (Main Season) 4
Report on Post- harvest Estimates of Area and Production of Belg Season Crops (Belg Season) 5
Report on Post- harvest Belg Season Farm Management practices of Private holdings (Belg Season) 6
Report on Land use for private Holdings 7
Report on Area and production of Crops and Farm Management Practices For Large and Medium Scale Farms (Both Seasons) 8
Report on Livestock and Livstock Characterstics
Private holdings 9
Report on Crop and Livestock Products Utilization for Private holdins

18. 12. Implementation of Global Strategy in Ethiopia
Ethiopia is expected to participate and contribute a lot in various researches that will be carried out with others in the area of :
Methodological guide lines
Producing handbooks through,
Documentation of good practices in
priority research topics

19. Thank you For listening