Planting Statistical Systems for Agricultural Growth
February 5th, 2019 marked the commencement of the project Enhancing Institutional Capacity and Analysis in the Agricultural Sector in OECS Members States. This project, which is a joint collaboration between the FAO and the OECS Commission, is set to benefit six (6) Member States – Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Mr. George Alcee, Agricultural Specialist at the Commission, and key focal point, ushered in the project with an inception meeting which included Saint Lucia’s Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ms. Souraya Niles; Head, OECS Commission Statistical Services Unit, Dr Gale Archibald; and agricultural focal points from each participating Member State.
According to the project document, the next step was to ‘perform an analysis of the situation in each country and discuss possible courses of action’. This took the format of an in-country assessment of the agricultural system in all the participating Member States. The mission which was led by the FAO consultant Ms. Lynda Kempt and assisted by OECS Commission’s Statistical Development Officer, Sherma Beroo, spanned from 28 February to 15 March.
It involved personal interviews with agricultural stakeholders, across the agricultural realm - from data collectors to Ministers with responsibility for agriculture.
Preliminary findings reveal that there is strong political will in the Members States to enhance institutional capacity. However, there are many deficiencies in the system. There needs to be a deliberate and conscientious effort to improve the production of agricultural statistics from data collection to statistical dissemination by firstly, employing sound statistical methodology; and secondly, providing the required resources (human, financial and structural) for its implementation.
At this juncture, the report is being prepared to guide the next steps of the project which ends in 31 December, 2019. The Statistical Services Unit continues to plough the statistical field with the FAO and Members States to plant the seeds of good statistical practices, because the lack of relevant, timely and reliable agricultural statistics is a hindrance to a country’s development and a threat to food security.