Planning minister heads first meeting of ministerial committee for agricultural census

AMMAN — The higher ministerial committee of agricultural census, headed by Planning and International Cooperation Minister Imad Fakhoury, on Tuesday held its first meeting for the year 2017, at the Planning Ministry’s headquarters. 

The committee includes the ministers of water and irrigation, interior, agriculture industry and trade and minister of state for media affairs. 

Fakhoury said the 2017 agricultural census is the seventh to be implemented by the Department of Statistics (DoS), which conducted the census six times before in 1953, 1965, 1975, 1983, 1997 and 2007, a statement from the Planning Ministry said. 

The framework of the 2017 agricultural census constitutes a “qualitative leap” as it will be implemented electronically, depending on the DoS’ available human resources and its capabilities to cover data on all the agricultural seasons during the period from August 1, 2016 to July 31, 2017, Fakhoury said. 

The minister highlighted the importance of modern technology in implementing the census, citing the DoS’ experience in carrying out the 2015 population census, which he commended as a “qualitative transformation”, adding more accuracy and quality to statistical data. 

DoS Director General Qasim Zu’bi acquainted the attendees with the preparations for the census.

Zu’bi, who is also the agricultural census’ national director, said the census will cover all aspects of agriculture and livestock around the Kingdom.

For his part, Minister of State for Media Affairs Mohammad Momani highlighted the importance of the media campaign in the census’ success and ensure the citizens’ cooperation with field researchers. 

The Cabinet earlier approved the agricultural census’ starting date as of May 2017, and ordered the formation of a higher ministerial committee headed by Fakhoury.