Gambia Agricultural Census 2011/2012: Demographic and Social Characteristics, and Intra-household distribution of managerial decisions and ownership on the holding

1. Regional Roundtable on
World Programme for the Census of Agriculture 2020
Nairobi, Kenya, 18-22 September 2017
Gambia Agricultural Census 2011/2012:
Demographic and Social Characteristics, and Intra-household
distribution of managerial decisions and ownership on the
holding
Technical Session 11
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Famara L.J Kolley
Principal Agricultural Officer/ Data Analyst
Planning Services Unit (Ministry Of Agriculture
E-mail address famarakolley1@gmail.com

2. 1. Introduction & Background
2. WCA 2020 essential items covered in The Gambia Agricultural
Census (GAC) 2011/2012
3. Methodology
4. Main Challenges in the collection of themes 8 & 10 in GAC
5. Conclusions
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Contents

3. 1. Introduction & Background
 The Agricultural Statistics and Resources Economics [ASRE] Section
under planning services Unit under the Ministry of Agriculture is
responsible for the conduct of Agricultural Census and National
Agricultural Sample Survey [NASS] on annual basis
 The 2011/2012 Agricultural Census was the second comprehensive
agricultural census exercise conducted in The Gambia. The first was
undertaken in 2001/2002.
 According to the 2005 statistic act GBOS is the national statistic
institution mandated to collect, process and disseminated official
statistics
 Therefore the Census of Agriculture was conducted under the authority
of the Gambia Bureau of Statistics (GBOS).
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4. Introduction & Background Cont.
Planning Services Unit under the Ministry of Agriculture conducted
the Census in close collaboration with GBOS who provided the
Statistical Frame comprising all Enumeration Areas (EAs) of the
country. The GBOS also provided the Census of Population
cartography and maps together with identification information.
The Gambia Bureau of Statistics provided training and technical
guidance with regard to the planning and carrying out of the Census.
International agencies such as FAO and the Commonwealth
Secretariat provided technical advisors and supervisors to assist and
help direct the field operations, quality control procedures, data
processing, tabulations and reports.
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5. Geographical Characteristics of The Gambia
• The Gambia is a located on the Atlantic coast of Africa, between
latitudes 13̊ N and 14̊ N and Longitude 14̊ W and 17̊ W.
Occupying a total area of 11420 sq km
• The Gambia consists of two narrow strips of land 6 to 26 km
wide extending 320 km east along the banks of the River Gambia
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6. WCA 2020 essential items covered in The Gambia
Agricultural Census (GAC) 2011/2012
The Essential items Them 8- Demographic and social characteristics
were considered data set collect from The Gambia are as follows
• Household size by sex and age groups
• Sex for each households member by region
• Age for each household members by region
• Relationship to household head or other reference person
• Marital status for each household member by region
• Educational attainment for each household member by region
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7. 3. Methodology
The required sample size of primary units EAs was selected from
each district with probabilities proportional to size (PPS), using the
systematic sampling while agricultural households were selected with
equal probability systematic sampling procedure.
3.1 Modular Approach
The modular approach consisting of six questionnaires plus an
Enumeration Areas Listing Form was used for data collection.
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8. 3.2 Sampling Frame
The Gambia Bureau of Statistics (GBoS) has provided the demarcated
enumeration areas (EA) for which it has a complete set of maps for
the entire country.
The sampling frame for the 2011 Agricultural Census Frame was
obtained from GBoS. The primary sampling units in the sample
selection were the EAs used in the 2003 Population Census.
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9. 3.3 Sampling Design
The sampling design used was a stratified two-stage with districts
forming the strata and the first-stage units being the EAs selected
systematically in proportion to the 2003 total number of households.
The second stage-sampling units were the agricultural households
within EAs from which a systematic random sample of five (5)
agricultural households was selected for enumeration
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10. 3.4 Sampling Size
The sample size is determined at two stages. At the first stage, 400
Enumeration Areas (EAs)
while 2000 Agricultural Holders were selected at the second stage. It is
expected that such sample is adequate to provide accurate estimates at
Regional level.
Information from the 2011 Agricultural Census programme had
indicated that 2000 households or 4% were sampled from the Total
households of 81,958 from 2003 The Gambia population Census. While,
out of the total number of 2434 rural EAs in the country, four hundred
(400 or 15%) were sampled. Such a sample was considered to be
adequate for providing regional estimates with a reasonable degree of
precision.
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3.5 Stratification
Administratively, the Gambia is divided into six Regions and each
Region is divided into a number of districts. For the agricultural
survey, the districts constitute the strata.

12. 3.6 Collection Method
The Census data/information was obtained by direct investigation through: (a) the interview method in
which answers were solicited from respondents and (b) physical measurements of fields and weighing of
produce in order to obtain estimates of hectarages and yields
Questionnaire(s)
Were designed to collect all the recommended core data for agriculture. The data were collected using
seven structured questionnaire forms 1- 7
1. Listing
2. Holding questionnaire
3. Area Measurement Questionnaire
4. Yield Questionnaire
5. Village Questionnaire
6. Groundnut Questionnaire
7. Mango Questionnaire
Controls to Minimize Non-Sampling Errors were also in place
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13. 3.7. Data Processing & Analysis
The filled questionnaires collected from respondents are collated and
entered into the computer using the CSPro software.
In order to minimize non-sampling errors, the data in the computer are
validated using SPSS Software and the resulting data set made ready
for analysis.
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14. 3.8 Data Analysis and Tabulation
The tabulations of results from the early rounds of the survey
operations were produced and analyzed to check on coverage,
response rate, consistency and reliability of the information
obtained.
Also, preliminary tables comprising more important variables
related to the basic socio-economic parameters are prepared.
The detailed tables containing all the survey results are
contained in the report.
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15. 4. Constraints encountered
• Lack of mobility for office staff on field operation slowed down
some progresses
• Administrative (allowances) and logistic (mobility) matters raised
by field staff delay in receiving their allowances;
• There was laxity on the part of some field staff due to non-vigilance
of their supervisors
• The Department of Planning (DOP) had staff members who were
under the direct supervision of the director. Due to the current
decentralization process within the Ministry of Agriculture, there
was a shift in the chain of command whereby the Regional Directors
would take lead in the mobilization of such field staff, which
impacted negatively on the speed and progress of the Census.
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16. 5. Conclusions
In spite of the many constraints that were faced during the
implementation process, the overall purpose of the Census was largely
achieved by providing updated information on the status of the
agricultural structure of The Gambia.
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17. Thank you
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