FAO Sub-regional Workshop On CountrySTAT and Metadata
Manila, the Philippines, 23-27 October 2006
Session 8. FAO Initiative on
Metadata Activities: Purposes and
Objectives
Hiek Som and Greg Gong (FAO)
25 October 2006
Metadata: Purposes and Objectives
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Objectives - What do we try to get? [Som]
Purposes – Why do we want it? [Som]
How to make it? [Gong]
What Do We Try to Get?
Compendium ≠ Encyclopedia
Why Do We Want It?
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We want it because it does not exist yet
We want it because it is very useful
o For users
o For producers
o For assessment and improvement
How to make it?
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Definition of metadata
Three aspects
Chapter structure
Next Steps
Metadata: Definitions
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Common definition: metadata is “data on
data.”
Broad definition: metadata describes “all
aspects of the national agricultural statistical
systems – on how, when, where, why, and
by whom the data are collected” (Initiative,
p. 2)
Key Components
“Input”:
Censuses,
surveys & admin
records
“Output” /
“products”
Major Domains and Selected
Indicators
Major Data Sources for
Agricultural Statistics
“Production
function” / “base”
/ “environment”
National System of Agricultural Statistics
Output = Production function (Input ) or
y = f (x)
Country Report: Chapter
Structure
Country Report of Metadata on Agricultural Statistics
Chapter 1
National System of
Agricultural Statistics
Chapter 2
Major Domains and
Selected Indicators
Chapter 3
Data Sources:
Surveys, Censuses,
and Admin Records
Country Report: Chapter 1
Chapter 1
National System of
Agricultural Statistics
§ 1.1 Legal and
advisory bodies
§ 1.2 major agricultural
statistical agencies
§ 1.3 Outputs and
dissemination
§ 1.4 Data users and
co-operation
§ 1.5 Strategic framework
Country Report: Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Major Domains and Selected
Indicators of Agricultural Statistics
§ 2.1 List of major domains
(selected indicators)
§ 2.2 Metadata for EACH of
the major domains
§2.2.1.1 Concepts
§ 2.2.1 Domain 1
§2.2.1.2 Coverage
§2.2.1.3 Data source
§2.2.1.4 Processing methodology
§2.2.1.5 Other information
§ 2.2.2 Domain 2
§ 2.2.3 Domain 3
Country Report: Chapter 3
Chapter 3: Major Data Sources for Agricultural Statistics
§ 3.1 List of censuses, surveys, and registers
§ 3.2 Metadata for censuses
§ 3.2.1 Census 1
§ 3.2.2 Census 2
§ 3.2.3 Census 3
§ 3.3 Metadata for EACH of the major surveys
§ 3.3.1 Survey 1
§3.3.1.1 Overview
§ 3.3.2 Survey 2
§3.3.1.2 Design
§ 3.3.3 Survey 3
§3.3.1.3 Conduct,
operations, data
quality control
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§3.4 Metadata for EACH of the major admin registers
§ 3.4.1 Admin register 1
§ 3.4.2 Admin register 2
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§ 3.4.3 Admin register 3
Next Steps
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Deadlines
o 4th Draft: 20 November 2006
o 5th Draft: 15 December 2006
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References (Initiative, p.11)
Group Statement for Plenary Session
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What are the main / common problems?
What are the main / common difficulties?
What are the best ways to document
metadata (for statistic domains, for
censuses, surveys, and administrative
records)?