WORKING DRAFT

MALAYSIA
COUNTRY ASSESMENT REPORT
2011

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SYSTEM

ABBREVIATIONS
CPC

Central Product Classification

CPI

Consumer Price Index Number

FAMA

Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority

HS

Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System

ISIC

International Standard Industrial Classification

LPP

Lembaga Pertubuhana Peladang

MARDI

Malaysia Agricultural Research and Development Institute

MNRE

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

MOA

Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry

MOPIC

Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities

MRRD

Ministry of Rural and Regional Development

NSDS

National Strategy for the Development of Statistics

SESRIC

Statistical Economic and Social Research and Training

SITC

Standard International Trade Classification

WPI

Wholesale price index Number

INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENT
Administrative structure of the country

The country is divided in 16 states. At the thirds level the country is divided into 144 districts.
The fourth level of administrative division is called Mukim. There are in total 95.

Legal and administrative framework for the collection of statistics

The Statistics act, 1965 (revised 1989) and Census Act, 1960 (revised 1969) provide the legal
basis for statistical activities in the country in general. The executive agency for statistical
activities in general is Department of Statistics, Malaysia and the legal basis is operational.
There is also a legal basis for collection of agricultural statistics, which is operational and fully
adequate. The agencies for agricultural statistics specified under the law are:
Department of Statistics, Malaysia
Ministry of Agriculture & Agro-Based Industry (agro food)
Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities Malaysia (Commodities)
FELDA under the Prime Minister Office
Ministry of Rural & Regional Development
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

In the country there exists an active National Statistics Council. The mandate of the National
Statistics Council cover: crop and livestock statistics, forestry and environment statistics,
aquaculture and fishery, water resource and rural development statistics.

Structure of the National Statistical System

The National Statistical System is decentralized by sector, but has a coordinating authority. The
country has a formal allocation of responsibility among different agencies producing statistics.
There is a functional mechanism to establish coordination among different agencies producing
statistics. The mechanism of coordination is fairly effective, it includes: periodic conferences of
the data producing agencies, common work planning with assigned responsibility for specific
output and working group and task team on technical issues.
A general statistical system and agricultural statistical system are available at sub-national level
called Agris-Geoportal (MOA).

Strategic framework

There exists a strategic thinking for the development of statistics and is expressed in a document
called Corporate Strategic Plan (DOS). The plan is operational and covers the period 2010 to
2014. It includes programme of work for the sub-sectors relating to crop and livestock statistics,
forestry and environment statistics, aquaculture and fishery, water resource and rural
development statistics.
The country also has a national Strategy/Plan/Programme specific to agriculture sector and it is
integrated into NSDS.

Dialogue with data users

There is an official forum for dialogue between suppliers and users of agricultural statistics,
including water, environment, forestry, fisheries, and rural development. Regular meetings of
the forum are held, and official channels for receiving feedback from users are set up. The level
of dialogue between users and producers is considered adequate.
The following agencies are represented in the forum:
Planning bodies (Ministry of planning or National Planning Commission)
Ministry of Finance/Treasury
Line ministries and departments (like water resources, environment, forestry
fisheries)
Central Bank
Representatives of academic and research community
Media
Private sector representatives.

CORE DATA AVAILABILITY

Production

Reliable data on crop, livestock, fishery and forestry sub-sectors is available through census and
surveys on annual basis with one year time lag for the entire country. However, Forest
production data on wood and non-wood value is not available.

External Trade
Highly reliable and up-to-date data on quality and value of trade is available on monthly
basis from administrative sources.
Stock of Capital and Resources

Data on livestock inventories, agricultural machinery, stocks of main crops is produced through
sample survey by Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry (MOA) with annual frequency
and is available with one year time lag for entire country and is considered reliable.
The data on land use is available for 2008 (perhaps from Census). The data on quality and
quantity of water used is not available.

Inputs

The data on agricultural inputs like fertilizer, seeds, pesticides, animal feed, forage, vaccines,
aquatic seeds is available from the censuses carried out by the National Statistics Office for the
entire country. It is considered reliable.

Agro-processing: ..........
Prices

Most of the price data is available in the country on monthly basis. The Department of Statistics
(DOS) is responsible for producer and consumer prices which are compiled on the basis of
sample surveys. This data is considered highly reliable. The MOA is produces wholesale price,
agricultural input prices and export and import prices from administrative sources, and is
considered reliable. Data series maintained by Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry
(MOA) and Department of Statistics (DOS) are up-to-date.

Investment, Subsidies or Taxes

No information
Rural Infrastructure
No information
Social

The DOS produces data on the social dimension of agriculture which is available with annual
frequency with one year lag. Most of this data is considered reliable. Gender specific data on
agricultural and fishery workforce is available from sample surveys with monthly periodicity.
The information on Population dependent on agriculture, aquaculture workforce and household
income is available on annual frequency.

Environmental

Reliable information on soil degradation, water pollution due to agriculture, emissions due to
agriculture and aquaculture is available from the DOS and the line ministry for 2010. The
administrative sources are indicated as the main source of data.

Geographic Location
Geo-coordinate of the statistical unit (parcel, province, region, country) are available for
2010 with the DOS for the entire country.

MAIN STATISTICAL ACTIVITIES

Population Census

The Department of Statistics (DOS) is the responsible agency for conducting the Population
Census. The last population census was in 2010 and the next one is planned in 2020. The
questionnaire of the last population census included questions on the household participation
in agricultural or related activities.

National Accounts Statistics

The Department of Statistics (DOS) is responsible for compilation of National Accounts Statistics
is. The most recent year for which National Accounts data are available is 2011.

As economic accounts of agriculture are compiled only for production. The estimates of
quarterly production from agriculture sector are prepared and published.
Economic accounts for fisheries and aquaculture sub sector have been compiled in the
country.
A national water accounting has been done in the country.
The 1993 and 2008 versions of UN SNA are used in Malaysia.

Adoption of Classifications

The country has adopted international classifications including :

ISIC (International Standard Industrial Classification) at 4 digits,
CPC (Central Product Classification) at 4 digits,
SITC (Standard International Trade Classification) at 9 digits,
HS (Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System) at 9 digits,
COICOP classification is also used.

Price Indices

A Consumer Price Index (CPI) is compiled and published. These report indices of important
agricultural commodities used for direct consumption separately.
An index of agricultural producer prices is published by Department of Statistics (DOS). Ministry
of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MOPIC) reports indices on rubber, cocoa, pepper and
tobacco. The Wholesale Price Index Number (WPI) includes rubber prices.

Food and Agricultural Surveys Conducted

Agricultural Census

The Department of Statistics (DOS) conducted an agricultural census in the country during 2005.
There was a legal basis for conducting agricultural census. It was conducted as a complete
enumeration exercise using list frame. The 2005 census of agriculture covered crops, livestock,
aquaculture, fishery and forestry relevant to agriculture (logging activities) subsectors as well as
other income generating activities.
The agricultural census was linked to the population census . It used the cartographic material
and administrative boundaries used for the population census. A few questions to collect
information on participation of household in agriculture sector were included in the population
census to get sampling frame for agricultural census. The next Agricultural Census is planned in
2015.
SENDI CENSUS (Fishermen Socio-Economic and Household Data) 2007 was done for marine
capture fisheries sector . Census on small holder was done in 2002.

Agriculture Surveys

2009 Paddy Production Survey carried out by the Department of Agriculture provided
production and yield data.
Good Agriculture Practices for Paddy Cultivation Survey 2009 done by Department of
Agriculture provides information on cost of production.

Post Harvest Loses for Paddy Survey was done by Malaysia Agricultural Research and
Development Institute (MARDI) and Lembaga Pertubuhana Peladang (LPP) in 2007.
Department Veterinary Services carried out Livestock Main Survey in 2010. Aquaculture
Practices Survey was done by Department of Fisheries in 2005
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) undertakes forest related surveys:
2007 : Wild Honey Bees;
2008 : Elephants &
2011 Wild Ornamental Plants
Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MOPIC) undertook following surveys:
Production Surveys: Tobacco - 2009, Pepper - 2010,
Yield Survey: Cocoa 2011,
Cost of production surveys: Oil palm-2011, Rubber-2009, Cocoa - 2011

Agricultural Market Information Surveys

A systems for collecting and disseminating price and related information from the major
wholesale markets of agricultural commodities, including rubber, exist in the country. An
annual publication - Average Price for Selected Agriculture Commodities (Warta Barangan) is
brought out by Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority (FAMA). This publications covers crop,
livestock, marine fish and aquaculture products.
For crops and livestock Ex-Farm, Wholesale and Retail Prices are collected. Five respondents
are being interviewed from every outlet daily with country-wide coverage. It also covers coca
and rubber.
For marine fish, Average Prices is collected at 229 Landing Complex weekly for 25 selected
common species. Type of prices collected include ex-farm and wholesale according to boat
registration (Zone A, B, C and C2). For aquaculture products the Department of Fisheries
conducts a monthly survey of average wholesale and retail prices for 40 main species.

Household Budget Survey

Household Budget Surveys, such as household income and expenditure survey were conducted
in 2009/2010. The estimates of rural household income-expenditure are available for 2009/10.
The next survey is planned in 2012 under the responsibility of Department of Statistics (DOS).

Quality consciousness in statistics

The methodology of national agricultural surveys is accessible to public. Besides Department of

Statistics (DOS), it is also done for Pepper survey by the Ministry of Plantation Industries and
Commodities (MOPIC).
There is no information on reports on sampling error, post enumeration surveys and technical
issues being published in the country. Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities
(MOPIC) reports publishing such reports for its surveys.

Information technology

The Department of Statistics (DOS) has a website http://www.statistics.gov.my for hosting

official statistics for the country. There exist a database for official statistics, accessible to
external users on internet. Separate web sites are maintained by line ministries for
disseminating their data.
The Department of Statistics (DOS) uses: SPSS, SAS, STATA, ACCESS, and CSPRO. Data are
collected and/ or capturing through: personal interview and manual data entry into computer
and/or scanning of questionnaires. PDA and CAPI are also used. GPS is used for research and
development. The use of CATI is expected in 2013.
A number of 1198 PCs are in used in the Department of Statistics (DOS) out of which 56 are for
agricultural statistics at headquarters. In addition. 9 server computers are installed for data

storage and communication. The field offices have 2662 PCs including those for agricultural
statistics. Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (MRRD) has 1 server, 3 computer at head
quarters and 111 computers in 11 states.

Transport Infrastructure

In DOS the number of transport vehicles available for statistical activities are: 19 four wheeled
vehicle and 2 motor cycles.

Financial resources (for 2011 in local currency)

Total national budget for statistical activities is about 161.1 million of which 1.02 million
is for agricultural statistics.
National regular budget for staff activities is 64.9 million of which 90.5 thousand for
agricultural activities.
National regular budget for staff trainings 362.5 thousands.
Total project budget for statistical activities (estimate) 81.1 million of which 38.7 million
(economy Census Project include agricultural).

Human resources and training for statistical activities

The Department of Statistics (DOS) reports as having:

Number of regular professional staff in the headquarters are 269 of which 28 are for
agricultural statistics
Number of regular professional staff in the regional/local offices are 110 of which 50 for
agricultural statistics
Number of regular support staff in the headquarters are 863 of which 20 for agricultural
statistics
Number of regular support staff in the regional/local offices are 1972 of which 16 are for
agricultural statistics.
Number of staff members trained in national training institutions during the last 12
months 2274 out of which professional staff 290 and support staff 1984.
Number of statistical staff who attended training courses (of one week or more) abroad
in the last 12 months is 4.
There is a regular training program for statistical staff both Department of Statistics (DOS) and
line ministries which also have some dedicated statistical staff. .

International cooperation in agricultural statistics (during last three years)

The Department of Statistics (DOS) benefits from a significant Technical Assistance Program
including the one for agricultural statistics sector. The donor agency which has provided founds
or technical assistance to the country was Statistical Economic and Social Research and Training
(SESRIC).

CRITICAL CONSTRAINTS IN AGRICULTURE STATISTICS SYSTEM

DOS
MOA
Support at political level in the
Government for statistical
activities
Level of demand for statistics

Dominant
Constraint

Significant
constraints

Technical skills of the available

statistical staff
Appreciation at the policy-making
level for importance of statistical
activities
Transport equipment for field
activities
Building space for office

Relevant

Number of professional
staff at headquarters for
statistical activities
Number of support staff
at headquarters for
statistical activities
Number of professional
staff in the field for
statistical activities
Number of field workers
for statistical activities
Transport equipment for
field activities

MRRD

Most constraints are reported as

dominant
Number of professional staff at
headquarters for statistical
activities
Number of support staff at
headquarters for statistical
activities
Number of professional staff in
the field for statistical activities
Number of field workers for
statistical activities
Turnover research staff high

MNRE

Technical skills of the

available statistical staff
Number of support staff at
headquarters for statistical
activities
Up-to-date information
technology hardware

INDICATORS OF COUNTRY CAPACITY TO PRODUCE CORE DATA

This section will present a quantitative measure of various dimensions of country capacity based upon
information provided in the standard questionnaire. Indicators for each dimension are in the process of
being finalized and computed.

1.

Presentation of Country Profiles

An example of graphical presentation of country profile based on standard assessment of country

capacity to produce agricultural statistics is given below.
Over - all country capacity
Institutional
Infrastructure
100
80
60
40
20
0

Availability of statistical
information

Statistical Methods and

Practice

Capacity indicator I
Institutional Infrastructure

Legal framework
110
100
90
70
91
Relevance

50
30

100
Coordination in
Statistical System

10

Integration of
Agriculture in the
100
NSS

Strategic vision and

100
planning

Capacity indicator III

Statistical Methods and Practices

Statistical software
capability
100
Analysis and use of
data

80

Data capture
technology

67

60

67

40
25 20
Specialized agricultural
survey

67

14 0

IT infratsructure

20

Agricultural price
information

International
classifications
100

86
General statistical
activities

Capacity indicator IV
Availability of Statistical Information

.
Timeliness
100
80

67

60
40

Quality
consciousness

71

20

33

Data accesibility

100

Core data
availability

80

Quality reliability
and consistency of
data

10

2.

Country grouping to monitor progress

There does not exist a unique method for grouping the countries according to the level of their
statistical development. However, a number of meaningful groupings are possible using the above
indicators. The transition of countries from a group to other group could then be monitored, once
criteria for grouping based on indicators is fixed.
Some literature on the subject suggests use of a Composite Indicator based on weighted average of
indicators on different dimensions. While this type of composite indictors serve a useful purpose as
reflected in the weighting diagram, these are often criticised as being subjective and having limited
general use. It is therefore proposed to present the profile of the country based on indicators
measuring key dimensions and their elements defining the country capacity.
One possible criteria, avoiding subjectivity, could be implemented as follows, after scores of all the
countries in the population, say a continent, have been obtained on all the three dimensions.
Step 1: Calculate the three Quartiles of the distribution of scores on each of the three dimensions.
Step 2: Verify the status of each country on each on the three dimensions with respect to respective
quartiles of that dimension.
Step 3: Assign group to countries as follows.

GROUP 1 (Least developed): On at least two of the three dimensions the country is measured as
being below the first quartile.
GROUP 2 (Developing with constraints): The country is below the first quartile on only one out of
the three dimensions. The limitations on this dimension may perhaps be acting as the binding
constraints to improvement of agriculture statistics.
GROUP 3 (Developing): At least one dimension the country is below the median of the distribution,
and the country is not part of any of the above two groups.
GROUP 4 (Progressive): The country is not in any of the three above groups and also has at least
one dimension below the third quartile.
GROUP 5 (Developed): On all the dimensions the country is above the third quartile.
The grouping is explained below on the basis of schematic diagram below.
To come..
With the improvements over time the distribution of the scores over the three dimensions will also
be changing. However, to ensure the over time comparability some Benchmark Scores could be used
for categorizations. These benchmark scores (or the thresholds for categorization) will remain
unchanged throughout the period of monitoring. The thresholds could be based on the distributions
obtained in the baseline assessments; they will be closer to quartile but not exactly the same as the
estimated quartiles.

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Chapter 8 of the Implementation Plan of the Global Strategy to Improve Agriculture Statistics (FAO,
2011) suggests a criteria to select pilot countries for priority attention. This categorization is also
expected to result in the similar groupings as would be obtained from the method based on quartiles
or thresholds. However, it should be noted that this method considers only a few of the elements of
country capacity to produce agriculture statistics.

CONTACTS
Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOS)
Agriculture and Environmental Statistics Divison
Level 5, Block C6, Complex C, Federal Government
Administration Centre
Mrs. Zarinah Mahari
Director
Level 5, Block C6, Complex C, Federal Government
Administration Centre
Tel.: 603-88857177
Fax: 603-88882917
Website: www.statistics.gov.my
E-mail: zarinah@stats.gov.my
Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based
Industry (agro food) (MOA)
Strategic Planning and International Division
14 th Floor Lot 4G1 Wisma Tani Presint 4
Muhammad Salimi Sajari
Under Secretary
Tel.: 603-8888 6970
Fax: 603-8888 8548
Website: www.moa.gov.my
E- mail: msalimi@moa.gov.my
Ministry of Rural & Regional Development
(MRRD)
Strategic Planning Division
Data Unit
Level 27, No. 47, Persiaran Perdana, Presint 4,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan, 62100
Putrajaya
Norliza Abd. Halim
Statistician
Tel.: 03-88912133
Fax: 03-88882328
E-mail: norliza@rurallink.gov.my
Rubber Industry Smallholders Development
Authority (RISDA)
Strategic Planning and Policy Division
Research Unit
Ahida Abdul Rahman
Principal Assistance Director
Tel.: 03-42564022
Fax: 03-42576726
E-mail: ahida@risda.gov.my

Ministry of Natural Resources and

Environment (NRE)
Forestry Department Peninsular Malaysia
Head Forest Economy Section, Forest
Planning and Economic Division
Jalan Sultan Salahuddin, 50660 Kuala
Lumpur
POH LYE YONG POH
Deputy Director
Cell: 6012-2070719
Tel.: 603-26164578
Fax: 603-29625657
Website: www.forestry.gov.my
E-mail: poh@forestry.gov.my
Ministry of Plantation Industries and
Commodities Malaysia (Commodities)
(MOPIC)
Strategic Planning and International
Division
Under Secretary, Strategic Planning and
International Division
No.15, Level 6-13, Persian Perdana, Presint
2, 62654 Putrajaya
Wan Mazlan Wan Mahmood
Under Secretary
Tel.: 603-88803406
Fax: 603-88803441
Website: www.kppk.gov.my
E-mail: wmazlan@kppk.gov.my

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