Description of methods and sources for Albania - INSTAT

IPA 2009 Multi-beneficiary StatisticalCooperation ProgrammeReporting units are all insurance companies, reinsurance companies and pensioncompanies and the data are annual and final annual data are available 6 (six) monthsafter the end of the year.3.1.6.2.4 Other statistical and administrative data sources3.1.6.2.4.1 Farm Structure surveyTo obtain the agriculture statistical information in terms of market economy, it isnecessary to use the contemporary statistical methods for data collection. For thispurpose, in collaboration with the US experts of NASS (National AgriculturalStatistical Service) and Agricultural Department collection of the data throughSampling Survey using Area Sampling Survey (ASF) method was deemed as moreappropriate.The Area Frame sampling selection method is one type of multi-stage clustersampling.For purposes of performing a statistical survey on Albanian agriculture it wasnecessary to use this method because an up-to-date list frame with the names of allAlbanian farmers was not available, the first General Agricultural Census (GAC)was carried out in 1998, and also it was difficult to compile one since ruralpopulation was moving towards the cities and the list would need to be frequentlyupdated. Therefore, with the Annual Agricultural surveys segments were sampled,farmers in each one were listed, and farmers were sampled from each list andinterviewed.Stratification: Agriculture and livestock activities differ between regions of thecountry. To improve the data collected on new activities the land was first split intohomogeneous zones (strata) prior to sample selection. The stratification method usedincluded: Allocating land in strata (homogeneous zones) based on defined criteria (in ourcase land use intensity); Further allocating the strata into groups and then sub-groups which weresimilar based on the defined criteria.Multi-stage sampling: Each stratum was first split into Primary Sampling Units(PSU-s). Once the PSU had been defined and measured using GIS, they were thensplit into segments based on target sizes desired in each stratum. Sample PSU-s wasthen selected based on the number of segments located in each one. Use of thistechnique reduced significantly the mapping measurement efforts required.Analyses: The decisions on design were made on the basis of criteria of datareliability as well as the costs. This included the decisions made on defining the29/236