Relevance
Crop production data is collected under Regulation (EC) No. 543/2009. These statistics cover crops from arable land, permanent crops, and agricultural land use, and are necessary for the implementation of agricultural policies.
Methodological description
Crop statistics data is retrieved from administrative sources. Fruit and Vegetables data is collected from the three local official markets; Pitkali Markets, Farmer Central Co-operative Society (FCCS), and Gozitano. The information is compiled on a daily basis, with Monday and Thursday being the busiest days. Data are recorded by crop where quantities and value are kept. Such data are forwarded to the NSO on a monthly basis.
Annual data regarding potato exports is received from the International Trade Statistics Unit within the NSO, while annual data regarding processed tomatoes is received from the three private tomato processors. Data regarding grapes sold to vintners is received from the viticulture section within the Department of Agriculture on a yearly basis.
Accuracy and reliability of data
Crop production data is checked for consistency and compared with the data from previous months or years. In case discrepancies emerge, the respective administrative sources are contacted again to update or verify the figures.
Timeliness and punctuality of data
A news release about fruit and vegetables is published bi-annually on the NSO’s website as scheduled in the Advance Release Calendar, normally two months after end of the preceding 6-month period.
Crop statistics data for a particular reference year is collected and transmitted to Eurostat before 30th September of the following year.
Accessibility and clarity of data
Monthly data on crops is included in StatDB; the NSO’s on-line Statistical database.
Tables on crop statistics are also included in the annual publication ‘Agriculture and Fisheries’ which is available on the NSO’s website. The publication was last published in 2016 for reference year 2014.
A quality report on crops statistics is compiled according to an established structure and sent to Eurostat every 3 years. A similar report is available on the NSO’s metadata website.
Coherence and comparability / consistency of data
The data collected could be compared with the data of other European Union member states since all countries follow the established guidelines of the stipulated regulations. Crops statistics are comparable from 1997 onwards.
All data collected is used to compile the Economic Accounts for Agriculture and therefore data is comparable between these statistical domains.
The National Accounts section within the NSO makes use of the collected data which ensures internal consistency.