National Statistics Office (NSO)

Unit B3: Environment, Agriculture and Fisheries Statistics

National Statistics Office (NSO), Unit B3: Environment, Agriculture and Fisheries Statistics, Lascaris, Valletta VLT2000, Malta

The data describe the structure of agricultural holdings providing the general characteristics of farms and farmers and information on their land, livestock and labour force.  They also describe production methods, rural development measures and agro-environmental aspects that look at the impact of agriculture on the environment.

The data are used by public, researchers, farmers and policy-makers to better understand the state of the farming sector and the impact of agriculture on the environment. The data follow up the changes in the agricultural sector and provide a basis for decision-making in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and other European Union policies.

The statistical unit is the agricultural holding (farm). The aggregated results are disseminated through statistical tables. The data are presented at different geographical levels and over periods.
The data collections are organised in line with Regulation (EU) 2018/1091 and have a new structure, consisting of a core data set and several modules. The regulation covers the data collections in 2020 (the agricultural census), 2023 and 2026. The data are as comparable and coherent as possible with the other European countries.

Data are arranged in tables using many classifications. Please find below information on most classifications.

The classifications of variables are available in Annex III of Regulation (EU) 2018/1091 and in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1874.

The farm typology means a uniform classification of the holdings based on their type of farming and their economic size. Both are determined on the basis of the standard gross margin (SGM) (until 2007) or standard output (SO) (from 2010 onward) which is calculated for each crop and animal. The farm type is determined by the relative contribution of the different productions to the total standard gross margin or the standard output of the holding.

The territorial classification uses the NUTS classification to break down the regional data. The regional data is available at NUTS level 2.

The statistics cover agricultural holdings undertaking agricultural activities as listed in item 3.5 below and meeting the minimum coverage requirements (thresholds) as listed in item 3.6 below.

The list of core variables is set in Annex III of Regulation (EU) 2018/1091.

The descriptions of the core variables as well as the lists and descriptions of the variables for the modules collected in 2020 are set in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1874.

The following groups of variables are collected in 2020:

• for core: location of the holding, legal personality of the holding, manager, type of tenure of the utilised agricultural area, variables of land, organic farming, irrigation on cultivated outdoor area, variables of livestock, organic production methods applied to animal production;
• for the module "Labour force and other gainful activities": farm management, family labour force, non-family labour force, other gainful activities directly and not directly related to the agricultural holding;
• for the module "Rural development": support received by agricultural holdings through various rural development measures;
• for the module "Animal housing and rural development module":  animal housing, nutrient use and manure on the farm, manure application techniques, facilities for manure.

See sub-category below.

The agricultural holding is a single unit, both technically and economically, that has a single management and that undertakes economic activities in agriculture in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006 belonging to groups:

- A.01.1: Growing of non-perennial crops

- A.01.2: Growing of perennial crops

- A.01.3: Plant propagation

- A.01.4: Animal production

- A.01.5: Mixed farming or

- The “maintenance of agricultural land in good agricultural and environmental condition” of group A.01.6 within the economic territory of the Union, either as its primary or secondary activity.

Regarding activities of class A.01.49, only the activities “Raising and breeding of semi-domesticated or other live animals” (with the exception of raising of insects) and “Bee-keeping and production of honey and beeswax” are included.

See sub-categories below.

The thresholds of agricultural holdings are available in the annex.

The same population of agricultural holdings defined in item 3.6.1. 

The above answer holds for the modules ‘Labour force and other gainful activities’ and ‘Rural development’. The module ‘Machinery and equipment’ is not collected in 2020.

The subset of the population of agricultural holdings defined in item 3.6.2.

See sub-categories below.

The entire territory of the country.

Not applicable.

Not available.

Farm structure statistics in our country cover the period from 2001 onwards. Older time series are described in the previous quality reports (national methodological reports).

The 2020 data are processed (by Eurostat) with 2017 standard output coefficients (calculated as a 5-year average of the period 2015-2019). For more information, you can consult the definition of the standard output.

Two kinds of units are generally used:

• the units of measurement for the variables (area in hectares, livestock in (1000) heads or LSU (livestock units), labour force in persons or AWU (annual working units), standard output in Euro, places for animal housing etc.) and
• the number of agricultural holdings having these characteristics.

See sub-categories below.

The use of land refers to the 12-month period ending on 31 August 2020. In the case of successive crops from the same piece of land, the land use refers to a crop that is harvested during the reference year, regardless of when the crop in question is sown. 

The 12-month period ending on 31 August 2020 within the reference year 2020.

The reference day 30 September 2020 within the reference year 2020.

The 12-month period ending on 30 September 2020. This period includes the reference day used for livestock and animal housing.

The 12-month period ending on 31 August 2020 within the reference year 2020.

The three-year period ending on 31 December 2020.

The reference day 30 September within the reference year 2020.

See sub-categories below.

Malta Statistics Authority Act 2000

https://legislation.mt/eli/cap/422/eng

2000

The Malta Statistics Authority Act gives power to the NSO to collect data from administrative sources. Besides, for the Census of Agriculture 2020, an agreement has been signed with the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Animal rights (MAFA) to enable sharing of the microdata collected in the Census by NSO of those agricultural holdings that gave us such consent.  

All individual data collected during the IFS is strictly confidential. No data, which might single out individual information, may be published.

See sub-categories below.

See sub-categories below.

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

The methodology is described in the dedicated section of Eurostat's website: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/microdata.

An advance release calendar is maintained by the NSO and published on the NSO website. The calendar projects three months of news releases (including the current and two subsequent months).

https://nso.gov.mt/en/News_Releases/Release_Calendar/Pages/News-Release-Calendar.aspx

An internal policy on dissemination is in place to govern the dissemination of official statistics in an impartial, independent and timely manner, making them available simultaneously to all users. The NSO’s primary channel for the dissemination of official statistics is the NSO website. Tailored requests for statistical information may also be submitted through the NSO website.

Not applicable.

 Data on Integrated Farm Statistics is disseminated every 3-4 years.

See sub-categories below.

https://nso.gov.mt/census-of-agriculture-2020-main-findings/

See sub-categories below.

Census of Agriculture – 2020 Report: https://nso.gov.mt/themes_publications/agricensus-2020/

See sub-categories below.

Not available.

Not applicable.

See sub-category below.

Not available.

Not requested.

See sub-categories below.

Not requested.

Not available.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

SIMS reports related to the compilation of the FSS are available to the public on the NSO’s metadata website including concepts related to metadata and quality. A quality report is additionally sent to Eurostat. The NSO has developed an internal Quality Management Framework (QMF) which is built on common requirements of the ESS Code of Practice (ESS CoP). A document was prepared to include a set of general quality guidelines spanning overall statistical domains. Assuring methodological soundness is an integral part of the QMF, nonetheless, the document spans also other areas related to institutional aspects.

See sub-categories below.

The NSO ensures the accuracy of data released to the public and prepares clear methodological notes which explain the processes involved in the collection and production of official statistics.

The NSO has developed an internal Quality Management Framework (QMF) which is built on common requirements of the ESS Code of Practice (ESS CoP). A document was prepared to include a set of general quality guidelines spanning over all statistical domains. Assuring methodological soundness is an integral part of the QMF, nonetheless, the document spans also on other areas related to institutional aspects.

Every five to seven years, the NSO participates in a Peer Review exercise through which the compliance of its operations with principles of the ESS CoP is assessed by an expert team. Peer Reviews are indeed part of the European Statistical System (ESS) strategy to implement the ESS CoP. Each NSI is expected to provide information as requested by a standard self-assessment questionnaire. Following this, an expert team visits the office to meet NSI representatives and main stakeholders. Peer Reviews result in a compliance report and the listing of a set of Improvement Actions that need to be followed up by the NSI. The next round of Peer Reviews is planned to be carried out in 2022.

Not available.

Not available.

The main user of the Census data is the Directorate for Agriculture within the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Animal rights (MAFA). All the additional data that has been collected in the Census 2020, was the need of the Directorate for Agriculture. They needed such detailed data in order to help them to make further analysis targeting for example specific crops in specific areas and also to have a stock of the main machinery that is used in the local agriculture sector. Such information will help them to formulate better policies in the coming years.  

In the Census 2020, the following data has been collected for national purposes only:

- the percentage of the production that has been consumed by the agricultural holding's family members and the share that has been sold

- whether the agricultural holding has bought any land for agricultural purposes in the last 5 years. If yes, we asked for the amount of land and also the amount paid.

- whether the agricultural holding has sold any land for agricultural purposes in the last 5 years. If yes, we asked for the amount of land and also the amount paid.

- detailed data has been collected on each and every parcel of land.

- whether the manager is training someone that may be interested to take over once the manager retires. 

- information on agricultural machinery such as the number of tractors and small rotavators, water pumps, and plant protection application equipment.

All user needs were met.

Not applicable.

The last User Satisfaction Survey was held in 2014 with the aim to collect information about key users’ satisfaction with statistical output.

The NSO keeps a record of the number of News Releases and publications disseminated on its website; the users to whom statistical products are provided; as well as the number of requests that are processed every year.

News Releases and tailor-made statistical outputs were assessed on account of their quality, timeliness, and on their ability to meet users’ needs.

2014

Information on not collected, not-significant and not-existent variables is on  Eurostat's website.

Not applicable for Integrated Farm Statistics as the not collected variables, not-significant variables and not-existent variables are completed with 0.

See categories below.

See sub-categories below.

Not applicable since we have conducted a census and not a sample survey.

Not applicable since we have conducted a census and not a sample survey.

Not applicable since we have conducted a census and not a sample survey.

See sub-categories below.

See sub-categories below.

The over-coverage rate is available in the annex. The over-coverage rate is unweighted.
The over-coverage rate is calculated as the share of ineligible holdings to the holdings designated for the core data collection. The ineligible holdings include those holdings with unknown eligibility status that are not imputed nor re-weighted for (therefore considered ineligible).
The over-coverage rate is calculated over the holdings in the main frame and if applicable frame extension, for which core data are sent to Eurostat. 

Not available.

Not requested.

See sub-categories below.

A numeric rate is not available but we made our best to include every holding in the population frame by merging all the available registers available at our side and also the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Animal rights (MAFA).

Prior to the census, we have merged all the available registers available at our side and also the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Animal rights (MAFA).

Not available.

Not applicable since census has been conducted and not a sample survey.

All the registers that been merged together prior to the census have been also merged with our population database to try to have the latest contact telephone number of the farmers.

See sub-categories below.

A thorough check of completed questionnaires is an integral part of the processing system.  Data control started at the collection stage.  Since we have opted for the CAPI, we have included a number of in-built validations directly in the system. Besides, we have tested the system prior to the launch of the data collection. Apart from this, all interviewers were instructed to interview not more than five holdings and submit the data to be able to identify any mistakes undertaken during the interviewing stage.  This exercise helped the interviewer to reduce the number of errors in the remaining questionnaires.  Once the interviewers submitted the questionnaires through the system, a number of validations were run on the data and, in cases where information was not clear, the interviewer was contacted again to verify the data given by the farmer. In such instances, the interviewer could update the data and resend the respective questionnaire.

The above measures were taken in order to minimise as much as possible the measurement errors.  Basically, the following characteristics caused some measurement errors:

Male and female family persons working on the holding - FLF_D_RFAM_M_PC1T24, FLF_D_RFAM_M_PC25T49.......FLF_D_RFAM_F_PC100 - Respondents' inability to provide accurate answers

Non-family male and female persons regularly working on the holding - FLF_D_RNFAM_M_PC1T24, FLF_D_RNFAM_M_PC25T49......FLF_D_RNFAM_F_PC100 - Respondents' inability to provide accurate answers

Not available.

See sub-categories below.

The unit non-response rate is in the annex of item 13.3.1.1. The unit non-response rate is unweighted.
The unit non-response rate is calculated as the share of eligible non-respondent holdings to the eligible holdings. The eligible holdings include those holdings with unknown eligibility status which are imputed or re-weighted for (therefore considered eligible).
The unit non-response rate is calculated over the holdings in the main frame and if applicable frame extension, for which core data are sent to Eurostat.

Not available.

There were no partly completed questionnaires. The respondents are asked all the questions by the interviewers and they reply to every question.

Not applicable.

Not available.

See sub-categories below.

When the data collected from the census resulted in discrepancies, the relevant participants were contacted again in order to confirm the data provided.

No processing errors were found as a result of thoroughly checking the data during the input stage and also through the inbuilt validations in the system.

Interviewers were able to make corrections in the questionnaire directly on the tablet and insert a remark on the correction they were doing. Once the correction has been done, the interviewer submits the questionnaire again to the office. 

Besides, the interviewers, only the Head of Unit was able to do corrections on the data submitted by the interviewer during the validation stage. Once the staff finds a query, he clarifies with the interviewer/farmer and then provides the head of the unit with the updated data together with the reason and he personally updates the data in the database.

Not available.

Not applicable

See sub-categories below.

The first results were published on 1st February 2022 i.e. 14 months after the end of the reference year.

The exact time lag is not yet known.

See sub-categories below.

See sub-categories below.

Not requested.

Not available.

See sub-categories below.

Not applicable, because there are no mirror flows in Integrated Farm Statistics.

See sub-categories below.

The data sent to Eurostat and/or the published data regarding agricultural holdings respect the definition set in Regulation (EU) 2018/1091.

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

Group A – all holdings over the thresholds and producing for the market (are included in the main frame)

Group B - all holdings over the thresholds and producing mainly for self-consumption (are included in the main frame)

Group C - all holdings under the thresholds and producing for the market (are included in the frame extension)

Group D - all holdings under the thresholds and producing mainly for self-consumption (are included in the frame extension)

The thresholds applied for the national data collection are the same as those applied for the data sent to Eurostat. 

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

The data that is sent to Eurostat and/or published data is with the same definitions and classification of variables included in Regulation (EU) 2018/1091, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1874, and EU handbook.

The information is available in the annex. 
The number of working hours and days in a year for a full-time job corresponds to one annual working unit (AWU) in the country. One annual work unit corresponds to the work performed by one person who is occupied on an agricultural holding on a full-time basis. Annual working units are used to calculate the farm work on the agricultural holdings.

The information is available in the annex of item 15.1.4.1.1. 

The information is available in the annex of item 15.1.4.1.1. 

For Livestock coefficients, we used those included in Regulation (EU) 2018/1091.

There are no differences between the types of livestock included under the heading “Other livestock n.e.c.” and the types of livestock that should be included according to the EU handbook.

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

The data that is sent to Eurostat and/or published data is in compliance with the reference periods/days set in Regulation (EU) 2018/1091.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

No, there are not any deviations from Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

17 years

See sub-categories below.

Regulation (EU) 2018/1091 newly considers agricultural holdings with only fur animals. However, our country does not raise fur animals.

See sub-categories below.

For the census 2020, no thresholds were applied on the whole frame since the small holdings are not monitored every year. Therefore, it was decided to collect all the information from all the registered holdings to have a better picture. This was not done in FSS 2016, in which holdings that were of type 9 were not taken into consideration for the sample.

See sub-categories below.

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

Legal personality of the agricultural holding

In IFS, there is a new class (“shared ownership”) for the legal personality of the holding compared to FSS 2016, which triggers fluctuations of holdings in the classes of sole holder holdings and group holdings.

AWU

Till FSS 2016, we have asked the number of weeks/months that the person has worked during the year while in IFS 2020 we have asked the total number of hours worked. This change in the methodology of how data has been collected in both years may have an impact on the final data.

Other livestock n.e.c.

In FSS 2016, deer were included in this class, but in IFS they are classified separately.

Also in FSS 2016, there was a class for the collection of equidae. That has been dropped and equidae are included in IFS in "other livestock n.e.c."

Livestock units

In FSS 2016, turkeys, ducks, geese, ostriches, and other poultry were considered each one in a separate class with a coefficient of 0.03 for all the classes except for ostriches (coefficient 0.035). In IFS 2020, the coefficients were adjusted accordingly, with turkeys remaining at 0.03, ostriches remaining at 0.35, ducks adjusted to 0.01, geese adjusted to 0.02, and other poultry fowls n.e.c. adjusted to 0.001.

Organic animals

While in FSS only fully compliant (certified converted) animals were included, in IFS both animals under conversion and fully converted are included.

See sub-categories below.

Concerning livestock variables:

- In FSS 2016, for cattle, sheep, goats, and poultry, data referred to 1 September 2016 while for pigs the reference date was 1 December 2016. 
- In IFS 2020, the reference day for the variables on livestock was 30 September 2020

See sub-categories below.

Not applicable.

- Regarding the non-dairy cows, the increase over 2016 has been confirmed and it is also in line with the administrative data.

- For the variables ‘other sheep’ and ‘other goats’, the data has been confirmed and the increase can be attributed to the issue that the data has been collected directly from the farmer while in 2016 administrative data has been used and also the reference date, in 2016 it was 1st September while in 2020 it was 30th September.

- The drops in F1100T+F1200T and V0000_S0000TK is attributed to part of the increase in the kitchen garden.

- The drop in FA9 can be attributed to the way how the variable was collected in previous years; till 2016 it was asked as total other area of the holding while in 2020, it was asked as a separate variable for both the holding having arable land and those rearing livestock.

- The kitchen gardens K0000 is increased, as we are seeing that the number holdings cultivating products for their own consumption is increasing over the years.

- The sharp increase of the average worktime of the holding managers in 2020 compared to 2016 is due to a change in the methodology of how data has been collected in both years. Until 2016, we have asked the number of weeks/ months that the person has worked during the year while in 2020 we have asked the total number of hours worked.

See sub-categories below.

Not applicable to Integrated Farm Statistics, because there are no sub annual data collections in agriculture.

Not applicable, because Integrated Farm Statistics have no relevance for national accounts.

See sub-categories below.

No analysis has been made for crop statistics since for such domain, we use the data collected in the Integrated Farm Statistics.

Regarding animal statistics, we have compared the data collected directly from the farmer for the specific reference date with the data used for the animal statistics that was compiled from the administrative source. Basically, there were no big changes between the two datasets. 

See sub-categories below.

With regards to the discrepancy in animal data (between Animal statistics and IFS) for A3100, this is related to different reference dates.

The data are internally consistent. This is ensured by the application of a wide range of validation rules.

See sub-categories below.

For the Census 2020 that was carried out between October 2020 and February 2021, we have contacted all the farmers, and therefore for this time around we did not coordinate questionnaires of different data collections. This has been done since in the Census we collected data on each and every parcel while in other surveys we collect aggregated data related to all the parcels being worked by the farmer.

For the Census 2020, we used the CAPI method for data collection and therefore information was transferred every day and there was no need to do data entry from our side since the data was being received directly in our system.

See sub-categories below.

Not available

Not available

Not available

Not available.

Data collected in the Census 2020, is final when it is published and there will not be any revisions.

Not applicable.

Not requested.

See sub-categories below.

See sub-categories below.

Statistical Farm Register

See sub-categories below.

Not applicable for 2019/2020.

Not applicable for 2019/2020.

Not applicable for 2019/2020.

See sub-categories below.

Not applicable.

Not applicable

Not applicable

See sub-categories below.

Not applicable

Not applicable.

Not applicable

See sub-categories below.

Not applicable

Not applicable

Not applicable

See sub-categories below.

Not applicable

Not applicable

Not applicable

Not applicable.

See sub-categories below.

The information is available on Eurostat's website.

See the attached Excel file in the Annex.

The information on innovative approaches and the quality methods applied is available on Eurostat's website.

The agricultural census is conducted every 10 years. The decennial agricultural census is complemented by sample or census-based data collections organised every 3-4 years in-between.

See sub-categories below.

Please find the questionnaire in annex.

See sub-categories below.

For the data validation, we used primarily Microsoft Access, SPSS and excel.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Covered under Data compilation.

Not applicable to Integrated Farm Statistics, because it collects structural data on agriculture.

See sub-categories below.

CAP – Common Agricultural Policy

CAPI –  Computer Assisted Personal Interview

CATI – Computer Assisted Telephone Interview

CAWI – Computer Assisted Web Interview

CoP - Code of Practice

ESS -  European Statistical System

FSS – Farm Structure Survey

IACS – Integrated Administration and Control System

IFS – Integrated Farm Statistics

LSU – Livestock units

MAFA - Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Animal

NACE – Nomenclature of Economic Activities

NSO - National Statistics Office

NUTS – Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics

PAPI – Paper and Pencil Interview

QMF - Quality Management Framework

SO – Standard output

UAA – Utilised agricultural area

No additional comments.