Agricultural & Fishery Statistics

The multi-purpose agricultural statistical survey aims at estimating the cultivated areas of vegetables, field crops, and seasonal and perennial forage crops, as well as their productivity and monitoring agricultural commodity prices at the farm gate. It also aims to track the number and sources of permanent agricultural labor, monitor protected agricultural structures (greenhouses), and track modern beekeeping units. Data collection is carried out through actual measurement of agricultural holdings components using mobile devices and electronic forms.

In 2009, RealSoft conducted a multi-purpose survey project that involved designing and developing a comprehensive statistical solution covering various aspects and stages of field and office work. The project provides a range of statistical reports that assist decision-makers in policymaking and making informed decisions.

The study of the costs of agricultural production inputs in the plant and animal sectors is of great importance due to its role in national accounts and in determining the economic feasibility of crop cultivation and animal rearing. It helps determine the share of farmers and livestock breeders, influencing consumer choices in purchasing locally produced agricultural commodities. This survey is typically conducted every 5 or 10 years to account for changes in production input costs and selling prices. After the census, it also provides a modern, accurate, and comprehensive framework for plant and animal holdings, which is the basis for this study and other future agricultural statistical surveys. RealSoft has experience in implementing such surveys in countries in the region.

The objective of estimating the production of seasonal crops is to determine the actual quantity of the crop that will be produced within a specific time based on various factors that affect crop productivity. This requires:

The survey aims to estimate the local production of dates according to their varieties. This is done by taking a representative sample from date palm holdings based on geographical regions. The samples are then assessed to identify the varieties of date palm trees and estimate the percentage of trees contributing to production. Also, the average production of date palm trees is estimated for each variety/geographical area.

RealSoft has implemented several systems for classifying date palm varieties and estimating date production. This includes electronic surveys on tablet/mobile devices, monitoring systems, and estimation of the number of palm trees by variety, production, and reporting.

Farm Gate Prices, also known as Agricultural Producer Prices, refer to the prices received by farmers for their products at the farm gate, which is the point where the agricultural commodities leave the farm. This price does not include post-farm gate costs, such as transportation to the market or selling point, storage costs, processing costs, and market fees (if applicable) for selling the product.

Some surveys may include estimates of marketing costs borne by farmers, including packaging, packaging materials, loading, transportation costs, and other related expenses, as well as estimating the relative weight of these costs. They may also estimate the costs of production inputs, including prices of seedlings, seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and other expenses incurred by farmers. These estimations are essential for calculating value-added and the contribution of agriculture to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

RealSoft has implemented farm gate price survey systems for several years on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in the Sultanate of Oman. This includes electronic questionnaires on tablet/mobile devices, monitoring systems, estimation, and reporting.

Wholesale prices for agricultural products are the prices at which wholesalers sell products in relatively large quantities to retailers, manufacturers, industrial users, and sometimes to end consumers. These prices include transportation fees after leaving the farm gate, incidental expenses, and the profit margin for the wholesaler.

The objective of surveying wholesale market prices for agricultural products is to track and analyze price changes at the wholesale level to monitor inflation and assess its impact on end consumers, production costs, and farmers’ profits. It provides important information to participants in the agricultural sector such as farmers, traders, and investors. This information also helps in making strategic decisions regarding crop production, marketing, resource allocation, and agricultural policies. It assists in analyzing market trends, predicting future changes in agricultural product prices, and evaluating the effectiveness of agricultural policies.

RealSoft has implemented systems for surveying wholesale prices of agricultural products in wholesale markets for several years on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in the Sultanate of Oman. This includes electronic questionnaires on tablet/mobile devices, monitoring systems, estimation, and reporting.

In 2006, RealSoft implemented a comprehensive system for data collection and estimation of fishing effort and fish production in the Sultanate of Oman, which has coastlines exceeding 3,000 kilometers and more than 20,000 fishing boats/fishing vessels. This system has been in operation since 2006 and has undergone several stages of development to align with technological advancements.

The data for this survey is collected from fish landing sites and constitutes the Fishing Unit, which consists of a fishing boat/fishing vessel and the used fishing gear. To estimate fish production, four variables are monitored. The first variable is the Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE), which represents the average production for the fishing unit (boat-gear-day). The second variable is the Probability of Boat Activity (PBA), which indicates the ratio of active boats per fishing day. Additionally, the number of fishing days per month in a fishing area and the number of boats/fishing units in that area are recorded.

RealSoft, implemented the system for marine fishing law violations. The system includes a tablet/mobile application that facilitates fieldwork for inspectors from the Omani Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Wealth, enabling them to issue violations on-site for those who violate marine fishing laws. Furthermore, it incorporates a robust back-end system and a comprehensive database that facilitates the monitoring of fieldwork activities and enables the issuance of judicial referrals in response to detected violations. This integrated system ensures efficient management and enforcement of maritime fishing laws.

RealSoft, implemented a project for the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Wealth in the Sultanate of Oman to develop a fish exports and imports system. The system includes the design and development of a comprehensive statistical solution to track all fish exports and imports. The system offers a comprehensive and seamlessly interconnected solution, encompassing a range of critical functionalities. These include efficient fieldwork operations at various entry and exit borders, and centralized database, as well as a powerful back-end system. Its capabilities span multiple areas, such as meticulous shipment inspection, streamlined data registration, and precise classification of exported and imported fish based on the Harmonized System (HS Code). Additionally, the system facilitates the printing of export/import certification documents and generates accurate statistical tables and results, all of which can be accessed conveniently from the ministry’s offices. By integrating these diverse components, the system ensures a cohesive and efficient workflow, significantly enhancing the overall effectiveness of fish export/import processes.

The primary objective of this project is to comprehensively gather and document details about the vast fleet of artisanal fishing boats and fishing vessels in the Sultanate of Oman, which exceeds the count of 20,000 units. The collected information attributes such as the precise location and coordinates of each boat/fishing vessel, their respective lengths, engine power specifications, storage capacity, and the specific fishing equipment employed in accordance with seasonal variations. Additionally, the survey aims to capture data regarding the number of skilled fishermen present on board each vessel.
The significance of this extensive data collection effort lies in its ability to establish a robust foundation for estimating fishery production and effort accurately. Typically, this comprehensive survey is conducted every five years to effectively monitor any changes in the locations of boats and the utilization of fishing equipment. To facilitate this critical undertaking, RealSoft has skillfully developed a cutting-edge data collection system, complemented by a sophisticated backend office system. Together, these seamlessly integrated components provide an efficient and reliable means to gather, organize, and analyze the vast amounts of data necessary for the successful execution of the survey. By leveraging RealSoft’s innovative technology solutions, the project aims to enhance the precision and effectiveness of fisheries management in the Sultanate of Oman, ensuring sustainable practices and informed decision-making.

RealSoft successfully implemented a system in 2008 and 2012 to collect fish prices from Oman’s markets. This comprehensive system consisted of a mobile application for data collection on tablets, a database, and an office system with survey management tools and monitoring capabilities. The mobile application ensured data integrity by validating the location coordinates of collectors against designated market coordinates in the database. It also facilitated fish species identification with images, names, and specifications. Additionally, the application enforced health and consistency verification rules for data quality assurance. RealSoft’s system revolutionized the data collection process, providing decision-makers with accurate and timely market insights.