Thursday 25 February, 2008
The Bureau of Budget and Planning, Office of Planning and Statistics (OPS) is now preparing to undertake a comprehensive Agriculture Census which is planned to be conducted in April 2008. The main purpose of the survey was to measure numbers, types and availibity of crops grown in Palau.
Agriculture is an important activity in the economy of Palau in terms of long term economic self sufficiency. At present, the population is heavily dependent on imported foodstuffs with very little local food production. In order to plan for the development of the agricultural sector, there is an urgent need for accurate and up-to-date information. As the first stage in this agricultural information program, the Government has decided to conduct an Agricultural Sample Census to make an inventory of the agricultural resources of the country. The census will also provide a frame from which further samples can be drawn to study certain aspects of agricultural activity in more depth.