Agriculture data: report on a scoping study in six Pacific island countries

Abstract

Accessing reliable data on agriculture production, marketing and trade presents a major challenge in developing and monitoring appropriate policy interventions in the Pacific region. This is despite the fact that the agriculture sector still remains the main source of livelihood for the majority of people in the small island countries and provides products which constitute the bulk of merchandised exports. The general unavailability of data on the sector means that impacts of policy interventions aimed at improving levels of food security, and agriculture based development more broadly, are poorly understood and that policy is generally based on perception rather than evidence.