Agricultural Survey Methods

Due to the widespread use of surveys in agricultural resources estimation there is a broad and recognizable interest in methods and techniques to collect and process agricultural data. This book brings together the knowledge of academics and experts to increase the dissemination of the latest developments in agricultural statistics. Conducting a census, setting up frames and registers and using administrative data for statistical purposes are covered and issues arising from sample design and estimation, use of remote sensing, management of data quality and dissemination and analysis of survey data are explored. Key features: Brings together high quality research on agricultural statistics from experts in this field. Provides a thorough and much needed overview of developments within agricultural statistics. Contains summaries for each chapter, providing a valuable reference framework for those new to the field. Based upon a selection of key methodological papers presented at the ICAS conference series, updated and expanded to address current issues. Covers traditional statistical methodologies including sampling and weighting. This book provides a much needed guide to conducting surveys of land use and to the latest developments in agricultural statistics. Statisticians interested in agricultural statistics, agricultural statisticians in national statistics offices and statisticians and researchers using survey methodology will benefit from this book.

Here in one easy-to-understand volume are the statistical procedures and techniques the agricultural researcher needs to know in order to design, implement, analyze, and interpret the results of most experiments with crops. Designed specifically for the non-statistician, this valuable guide focuses on the practical problems of the field researcher. Throughout, it emphasizes the use of statistics as a tool of research—one that will help pinpoint research problems and select remedial measures. Whenever possible, mathematical formulations and statistical jargon are avoided. Originally published by the International Rice Research Institute, this widely respected guide has been totally updated and much expanded in this Second Edition. It now features new chapters on the analysis of multi-observation data and experiments conducted over time and space. Also included is a chapter on experiments in farmers' fields, a subject of major concern in developing countries where agricultural research is commonly conducted outside experiment stations. Statistical Procedures for Agricultural Research, Second Edition will prove equally useful to students and professional researchers in all agricultural and biological disciplines. A wealth of examples of actual experiments help readers to choose the statistical method best suited for their needs, and enable even the most complicated procedures to be easily understood and directly applied. An International Rice Research Institute Book

This document is part of the FAO Statistics Working Paper Series and part of the methodological works of the Survey Team of the FAO Statistics Division to provide operational guidance on selected areas of agricultural survey methodology with an overall objective to promote cost effective practices in agricultural surveys implementation. The main objective of this note is to present how to perform sample selection with partial rotation over the survey cycle. A number of methods recommended in the literature are proposed here considering their suitability, cost effectiveness and ease of implementation in the context of agricultural surveys in developing countries.

This book provides a sound understanding for creating new knowledge, which takes three main forms: Exploratory research, which structures and identifies new problems; constructive research, which develops solutions to a problem; and empirical research, which tests the feasibility of a solution using empirical evidence. This book encompasses both qualitative and quantitative research and analysis. The reader should gain an understanding of the skills needed to design and undertake a research project, including legal and ethical requirements in planning research projects, choosing the best experimental design and analytical methods, and how to present data for extension to the wider community and establish the knowledge. Hands-on exercises are provided to improve reasoning skills, emphasising agricultural problems and issues to solve and interpret the experimental data to knowledge. The book covers research methods within these three forms with basic knowledge of research methodology. Design of experiments and significant results are interpreted through the scientific organisation and information in each of the chapters. The inherent discussion should help interdisciplinary graduate students and researchers accomplish their scientific experiments and write research articles. The cognitive writing style to interpret the observed data from experiments and surveys is emphasised in this book. The cognitive summary for each of the chapters is provided in the form of wording and graphics to focus on the chapter highlights as well as the use of analytical tools in the research. The utmost care is taken to present a varied range of research problems along with their solutions in agriculture and its allied fields, which should be of immense use to the readers interested in this topic.

The research and its outcomes presented here focus on spatial sampling of agricultural resources. The authors introduce sampling designs and methods for producing accurate estimates of crop production for harvests across different regions and countries. With the help of real and simulated examples performed with the open-source software R, readers will learn about the different phases of spatial data collection. The agricultural data analyzed in this book help policymakers and market stakeholders to monitor the production of agricultural goods and its effects on environment and food safety.

Presents the survey methodologies of area and multiple frame agricultural survey programs currently used in a wide range of countries.