There is a need to manage and improve the availability, quality, and accessibility of data and statistics pertaining to agriculture and rural populations.

It's against this background that the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the Namibia Statistic Agency are hosting a one-day Assessment Findings Workshop on the Development of the Strategic Plan for Agriculture and Rural Statistics in Namibia. 

The agriculture sector remains paramount in developing countries as it plays a critical role in food and nutrition security, employment creation, and increasing income.

Hence, the Strategic Plan for Agriculture and Rural Statistics (SPARS) initiative is a crucial component of Namibia's efforts to enhance agriculture and rural statistics in the country.

FAO representative, Qingyun Diao "The purpose of developing the SPARS is multifaceted. It not only guarantees improved coverage of agriculture and rural statistics but also responds to regional and international requirements."

Since the inception workshop in July 2023, the Namibia Statistic Agency and Food and Agriculture Organisation have conducted a thorough assessment of the agriculture statistical system, covering crop and livestock, forestry, environment and natural resources, and fisheries and aquaculture sub-sectors.

NSA Executive of Economic Statistics, Abel Sindano, says, "The assessment questionnaire covered some important aspects that are necessary for measuring the capacity of agriculture statistics in Namibia. This includes ongoing statistical activities and the institutional framework governing agricultural statistical production. Thus, it depicts the status quo of the current agriculture statistical system. This assessment is therefore important because it will unpack gaps that exist in agriculture statistics that are important for meeting stakeholders' data demand."

The workshop is aimed at producing a high-quality assessment report that will directly impact the strategic choices made within the agriculture sector and rural development.