28 years after Nigeria to organise Agric Sample Census
Chima Azubuike
National Bureau of Statistics, on Wednesday said data collection has effect in the Nigeria’s quest to attain food sufficiency, adding that the last time National Agricultural Sample Census (NASC), held was 28 years ago.
Speaking at a National dialogue on Nigeria’s performance at the third biennial review exercise, organised by ActionAid, Assistant Director head of Agro-statistics, Bishop Ohioma said the census would help government track development within the agricultural sector.
According to him, NACS would afford farmers opportunity be listed based on the crops they grow, the livestock, adding that the failure to conduct it periodically despite it advantages is due to paucity of funds.
He said, “National Agricultural Sample Census will be done across all the Local Government Areas in Nigeria. We are expecting the training of trainers to commence in the 1st week of June and it will last for 60 days. It will take place across the 774 LGA’s The census will look at the farming households in the country.
“The other one is National Agricultural Sample Survey (NASS), and it is supposed to be yearly. The census is supposed to be 10 years as recommended by the FAO, the last time it was done was about 28 or 29 years ago, this is because of funds. So, immediately after the NASC we will commence with NASS, which was done last eight years ago. We will select farmers from the already listed farmers during the census we will be asking.”
Ohioma disclosed that the Northern part of Nigeria is always willing to yield information during data collection, adding that statistics has ripple effect in the country’s quest to attain food sufficiency.
“Statistics is about estimate, it is very easy for us to collect data from the North than in the south. The NASC and NASS will boost food security, the problem we have in Nigeria for policy making is the problem of data.
“We will also look at the food security situation across all the Local Government Areas within the state and we should be able to make recommendations to government. You know government is concerned about the food security situation,” he added.
