Govt updating method for rice data collection<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Agriculture and the Central
\nBureau of Statistics (BPS) are preparing new methodology to
\nprovide more accurate statistical data on the country's rice
\nproduction.<\/p>\n
Minister of Agriculture Soleh Solahuddin said on Tuesday that
\nmore accurate, reliable and timely statistical information on
\nrice production and other agricultural products was more crucial
\ntoday because inaccurate estimates would mislead the public and
\nresult in the failure of the government's food programs.<\/p>\n
\"Reliable data is needed to set an accurate forecast for
\nimports of rice and other foodstuffs. We have found that there
\nwere disparities in previous agricultural statistics that need to
\nbe addressed to avoid further problems in the coming years,\"
\nSoleh said after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of
\nunderstanding between the ministry and the Japanese government.<\/p>\n
Soleh said the methodology in the collection of data on the
\nfarming area and yield used to forecast rice and food crop
\nproduction had been introduced in 1972 and needed to be revised
\nbecause conditions in the country had changed considerably.<\/p>\n
Under the MOU, the Japanese government through the Japan
\nInternational Cooperation Agency (JICA) will provide experts to
\nimprove statistical methodology and train the ministry and BPS
\nofficials to conduct better surveys.<\/p>\n
The MOU was signed by the ministry's secretary-general
\nSyarifuddin Karama and the Minister of Embassy at the Japanese
\nembassy, Norio Hattori.<\/p>\n
Soleh said the MOU was an extension of the existing
\ncooperation in agricultural statistics technology improvement and
\nthe training project, which will ended in October 1999. The
\nprevious cooperation covered rice and crops production estimation
\nin Cianjur and Sukabumi regencies in West Java. (gis)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-updating-method-for-rice-data-collection-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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