Economic accounts for agriculture (aact)

National Reference Metadata in ESS Standard for Quality Reports Structure (ESQRS)

Compiling agency: ISTAT (Italian National Institute of Statistics)


Eurostat metadata
Reference metadata
1. Contact
2. Statistical presentation
3. Statistical processing
4. Quality management
5. Relevance
6. Accuracy and reliability
7. Timeliness and punctuality
8. Coherence and comparability
9. Accessibility and clarity
10. Cost and Burden
11. Confidentiality
12. Comment
Related Metadata
Annexes (including footnotes)
 



For any question on data and metadata, please contact: Eurostat user support

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1. Contact Top
1.1. Contact organisation
ISTAT (Italian National Institute of Statistics)
1.2. Contact organisation unit

Economic Accounts Agriculture (EAA)
1.5. Contact mail address

Via Depretis 74/b - 00184 Roma - Italy


2. Statistical presentation Top
2.1. Data description

Main characteristics

2.1.1 Describe shortly the main characteristics of the statistics  

The Economic Accounts for Agriculture (EAA) provide detailed information on income in the agricultural sector. The purpose is to analyse the production process of the agricultural industry and the primary income generated by this production. The accounts are therefore based on the industry concept. The EAA accounts are detailed data on value of output (producer prices and basic prices), intermediate consumption, subsidies and taxes, consumption of fixed capital, rent and interests, capital formation etc. The values are in current as well as in constant prices. Agricultural Labour Input (ALI) and Unit Values (UV) are an integrated part of the overall concept of Economic Accounts for Agriculture.


Reference period

2.1.2 Reference period of the data collection 

2017
2.1.3 Is the reference period based on the calendar year starting January 1st and ending December 31st? Yes
2.1.4 If No, please specify


National legislation

2.1.5 Is there a national legislation covering these statistics?  Yes
If Yes, please answer all the following questions.  
2.1.6 Name of the national legislation 

PSN (National Statistical Programme)
2.1.7 Link to the national legislation 

http://www.sistan.it/index.php?id=511
2.1.8 Responsible organisation for the national legislation 

ISTAT (Italian National Institute of Statistics)
2.1.9 Year of entry into force of the national legislation 

1989
2.1.10 Please indicate which variables required under EU regulation are not covered by national legislation, if any.
2.1.11 Please indicate which national definitions differ from those in the EU regulation, if any. 
2.1.12 Is there a legal obligation for respondents to reply?  Yes


Additional comments on data description
2.2. Classification system

The EAA is an integral part of the European system of accounts and therefore for their compilation the Eurostat's general classification of economic activities, NACE Rev. 2, is used.
2.3. Coverage - sector

EAA cover the Agricultural sector.
2.4. Statistical concepts and definitions

One of the principal objectives of the EAA is to measure agricultural income and changes therein.
The three agricultural income indicators can be described as follows:
Indicator A: index of the real income of factors in agriculture per AWU
Indicator B: index of real net agricultural entrepreneurial income, per non-salaried AWU
Indicator C: net entrepreneurial income of agriculture
2.5. Statistical unit

In order to analyse flows generated by the production process and the use of goods and services, it is necessary to select units which emphasise relationships of a technico-economic kind. This requirement means that as a rule institutional units must be partitioned into smaller and more homogeneous units with regard to the kind of production. Local kind-of-activity units (local KAUs) are intended to meet this requirement as a first but practically-oriented operational approach
2.6. Statistical population

The agricultural holding, which is the unit currently used for statistical studies of agriculture (censuses, surveys of the structure of agricultural holdings), is the local KAU most appropriate to the agricultural industry.In addition to agricultural holdings, the agricultural industry comprises units made up of groups of producers (e.g. cooperatives) which produce wine and olive oil and specialised units which provide machines, material and labour for the performance of contract work.
2.7. Reference area
2.7.1 Geographical area covered

The entire territory of the country.
2.7.2 Which special Member State territories are included?
2.8. Coverage - Time

1980-2017
2.9. Base period


3. Statistical processing Top
3.1. Source data

Overall summary

3.1.1 Total number of different data sources used

19
The breakdown is as follows: 
3.1.2 Total number of sources of the type "Census"

7
3.1.3 Total number of sources of the type "Sample survey"

7
3.1.4 Total number of sources of the type "Administrative source"

4
3.1.5 Total number of sources of the type "Experts"

1
3.1.6 Total number of sources of the type "Other sources"

0


Census

If there is a specific census conducted in your country to collect data exclusively for the EAA please describe it in this part. For other data sources please use table 3.1 in the annexed Excel file. If metadata already exist just provide the name of the data source. 
3.1.7 Name/Title

6th General Agricultural Census
3.1.8 Name of Organisation responsible

ISTAT (Italian National Institute of Statistics)
3.1.9 Main scope

The 6th General Agriculture Census collects data on agricultural and livestock holdings in each Municipality, carried out by anyone and with size, in terms of area or texture of the livestock breed, equal or above the minimum thresholds set by Istat in compliance with the provisions of the Regulation (EC) n. 1166/2008.
3.1.10 List used to build the frame

In the process of pre-census list have been used 17 administrative and statistical sources.
3.1.11 Any possible threshold values
3.1.12 Population size

pre-census list consisted of 2,047,948 units to which were added 89,082 new farms. The survey estimated the presence of 1,620,884 active farms in Italy, defined by the thresholds set.
3.1.13 Additional comments


Sample survey

If there is a specific survey conducted in your country to collect data exclusively for the EAA please describe it in this part. For other data sources please use table 3.1. If metadata already exist just provide the name of the data source.(e.g. FSS, Crop production, Animal production, Prices in Agriculture) 
3.1.14 Name/Title

Economic outcomes of agricultural holdings (RICA-REA)
3.1.15 Name of Organisation responsible

Istat, Crea (Council for Agricultural Research and Economics)
3.1.16 Main scope

Main variables collected are: costs, inventory and stocks, purchases and sales of fixed assets, farm use, sales, consumption, subsidies to businesses, labor costs and earnings.
3.1.17 List used to build the frame

archive census, reported at last available agriculture census
3.1.18 Any possible threshold values
3.1.19 Population size

the census list consists of 1,620,884 holdings
3.1.20 Sample size

about 19,000 holding
3.1.21 Sampling basis List
3.1.22 If Other, please specify
3.1.23 Type of sample design Stratified
3.1.24 If Other, please specify
3.1.25 If Stratified, number of strata

1046
3.1.26 If Stratified, stratification criteria Unit specialization
3.1.27 If Other, please specify

Stratification criteria: unit location, unit specialization, unit size
3.1.28 Additional comments


Administrative source

If there is a specific administrative source in your country witch provide data exclusively for the EAA please describe it in this part. For other administrative sources please use table 3.1. If metadata already exist just provide the name of the data source. 
3.1.29 Name/Title

Areas and production of tobacco, rice and sugar beet collected by sugar factories

 
3.1.30 Name of Organisation responsible

ISTAT (Italian National Institute of Statistics)
3.1.31 Contact information (email and phone)
https://www.istat.it/
phone: +39 06 46731
3.1.32 Main administrative scope

Monitoring area, production, market (compilation of supply balance sheets).
3.1.33 Geospatial Coverage Regional
3.1.34 Update frequency Annual
3.1.35 Legal basis

No legal basis
3.1.36 Are you able to access directly to the micro data? No
3.1.37 Are you able to check the plausibility of the data, namely by contacting directly the units? No
3.1.38 How would you assess the proximity of the definitions and concepts (including statistical units) used in the administrative source with those required in the EU regulation? Good
3.1.39 Please list the main differences between the administrative source and the statistical definitions and concepts
3.1.40 Is a different threshold used in the administrative source and statistical data?
3.1.41 If Yes, please specify
3.1.42 Additional comments


Experts

If there is a specific expert source in your country witch provide data exclusively for the EAA please describe it in this part. For other expert sources please use table 3.1. If metadata already exist just provide the name of the data source.
3.1.43 Name/Title

Estimate of crop, flower and pot plant production and area
3.1.44 Primary purpose

Statistics are produced using expert information. Data are provided by local authorities that collect experts evaluations on area and yield of different crops. The auxiliary information could be included in expert's estimate, such as verifying the availability of external sources (eg professional bodies or associations of producers, administrative sources, auxiliary sources of data related to the cultivation being estimated). Crops under investigation are different for each month and take into account the phenological stage of cultivation. For this reason more than one estimate can be determined for each crop during the year (provisional, temporary or permanent).
3.1.45 Legal basis

The survey is under Regulation (EC) No 543/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on Statistics on crops.
3.1.46 Update frequency Monthly
3.1.47 Expert data supplier Statistical office
3.1.48 If Other, please specify
3.1.49 How would you assess the quality of those data? Good
3.1.50 Additional comments


Other sources

If there is more than one other statistical activity, please describe the main one below and the additional ones in table 3.1 of the annexed Excel file 
3.1.51 Name/Title
3.1.52 Name of Organisation
3.1.53 Primary purpose
3.1.54 Data type
3.1.55 If Other, please specify
3.1.56 How would you assess the quality of those data?
3.1.57 Additional comments

 
3.2. Frequency of data collection

Annual
3.3. Data collection

Census

If there is a specific census conducted in your country to collect data exclusively for the EAA please describe the method of data collection in this part. For other data sources please use table 3.3. If metadata alredy exist just provide the name of the data source. 
3.3.1 Name/Title

6th General Agricultural Census
3.3.2 Methods of data collection Other
3.3.3 If Other, please specify

face to face interview with closed questions questionnaire, precompiled for the part of biographical information with multi-channel detection technique (mixed mode):

• face to face interview the farm manager with paper questionnaire;

• data collection by electronic questionnaire available on an Italian National Institute of Statistics (Istat) web site by the farm manager.

 

 
3.3.4 If face-to-face or telephone interview, which method is used? Paper questionnaire
3.3.5 Data entry method, if paper questionnaires? Manual
3.3.6 Please annex the questionnaire used (if very long: please provide the hyperlink)

http://siqual.istat.it/SIQual/files/questionario_ceagr.pdf?ind=7777785&cod=4704&progr=1&tipo=4
3.3.7 Additional comments


Sample survey

If there is a specific survay conducted in your country to collect data exclusively for the EAA please describe the method of data collection in this part.For other data sources please use table 3.3. If metadata alredy exist just provide the name of the data source. 
3.3.8 Name/Title

Economic outcomes of agricultural holdings (RICA-REA)
3.3.9 Methods of data collection Face-to-face interview
3.3.10 If Other, please specify

The data are collected by direct interview with electronic questionnaire (CAPI technique - Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing) that is different depending on the characteristics of the holdings: a questionnaire prepared by Italian National Institute of Statistics (Istat) for REA universe holdings, a more detailed questionnaire prepared by Italian National Institute of Agricultural Economics (CRAI ex-INEA) for the FADN (RICA) universe.
3.3.11 If face-to-face or telephone interview, which method is used? Electronic questionnaire
3.3.12 Data entry method, if paper questionnaires?
3.3.13 Please annex the questionnaire used (if very long: please provide the hyperlink)

http://siqual.istat.it/SIQual/files/questrea_2013.pdf?ind=5000028&cod=4977&progr=1&tipo=4
3.3.14 Additional comments


Administrative source

If there is a specific administrative source in your country to collect data exclusively for the EAA please describe the metod of data collection in this part.For other data sources please use table 3.3. If metadata alredy exist just provide the name of the data source. 
3.3.15 Name/Title

Areas and production of tobacco, rice and sugar beet collected by sugar factories
3.3.16 Extraction date

When data are available.
3.3.17 How easy is it to get access to the data? Access granted upon a simple request
3.3.18 Data transfer method
3.3.19 Additional comments


Experts

If there is a specific expert source in your country witch provide data exclusively for the EAA please describe the metod of data collection in this part. For other expert sources please use table 3.3. If metadata alredy exist just provide the name of the data source.
3.3.20 Name/Title

Estimate of crop, flower and pot plant production and area
3.3.21 Methods of data collection

Estimation by provincial/Regional experts. Data are provided by local authorities that collect experts evaluations on area and yield of different crops, through a electronic questionnaire compiled in a specific web portal called GINO (https://gino.istat.it/questionari/lista_indagini.php).
3.3.22 Additional comments
3.4. Data validation
3.4.1 Which kind of data validation measures are in place? Automatic
3.4.2 What do they target? Consistency
3.4.3 If Other, please specify

The procedure both automatic and manual involves: analyzing the strength and coverage of sources (the main ones are about 20), comparing the statistics with previous cycles and with expectations, outlier detection.
3.5. Data compilation
3.5.1 Describe the data compilation process

The agricultural sector uses as calculating method, unlike most other economic sectors, the aggregation estimates on quantities and prices. In this context, agricultural accounts require (at both central framework level and satellite account level), statistical information available at a very disaggregated level. Such information is integrated, during the year with data on sowings, forecasts on production and on harvested production in progress and with the data from the REA (the sample survey on the economic outcomes of agricultural holdings).
3.5.2 Additional comments
3.6. Adjustment

No adjustment required


4. Quality management Top
4.1. Quality assurance
4.1.1 Is there a quality management system used in the organisation? Yes
4.1.2 If yes, how is it implemented?

SIQual information system on quality contains information on the execution of Istat primary surveys and secondary studies and on activities developed to guarantee quality of the produced statistical information. The system is devoted to the navigation of metadata describing the production process and its characteristics: information content; phases and operations of the production process; activities to prevent, monitor and evaluate errors. Statistical information systems for data dissemination and their sources are also documented. In SIQual, primary surveys, secondary studies and statistical information systems are generically referred as statistical processes. Documentation of general interest or specific for a certain process is available in the "Documents" area of the system. SIQual also allows to consult statistical on-line data disseminated on the Web.
4.1.3 Has a peer review been carried out? No
4.1.4 If Yes, which were the main conclusions?
4.1.5 What quality improvements are foreseen? Other
4.1.6 If Other, please specify
further use of administrative archives (farm register and agricultural statistical register of active enterprises).
4.1.7 Additional comments

http://siqual.istat.it/SIQual/lang.do?language=UK
4.2. Quality management - assessment

Development since the last quality report

4.2.1 Overall quality Improvement
4.2.2 Relevance Stable
4.2.3 Accuracy and reliability Stable
4.2.4 Timeliness and punctuality Stable
4.2.5 Comparability Improvement
4.2.6 Coherence Stable
4.2.7 Additional comments

Benchmark 2014 and ESA 2010 have led to improve the overall quality of estimates.


5. Relevance Top
5.1. Relevance - User Needs
5.1.1 If certain user needs are not met, please specify which and why
5.1.2 Please specify any plans to satisfy needs more completely in the future
5.1.3 Additional comments
All the known needs of users are met.
5.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
5.2.1 Has a user satisfaction survey been conducted? No
If Yes, please answer all the following questions 
5.2.2 Year of the user satisfaction survey
5.2.3 How satisfied were the users?
5.2.4 Additional comments

No user satisfaction survey was conducted.
However, all requests for data or information from users (by e-mail or phone) have been met.
5.3. Completeness
5.3.1 Data completeness - rate

All data cells required are provided.
5.3.2 If not complete, which characteristics are missing?
5.3.3 Additional comments


6. Accuracy and reliability Top
6.1. Accuracy - overall
6.1.1 How good is the accuracy? Good
6.1.2 What are the main factors lowering the accuracy? Other
6.1.3 If Other, please specify

The deadlines cause that a small number of sources could be not available in time for the estimates or only provisional data are available.
6.1.4 Additional comments
6.2. Sampling error
6.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
6.3. Non-sampling error
6.3.1. Coverage error
6.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
6.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
6.3.2. Measurement error
6.3.3. Non response error
6.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate
6.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
6.3.4. Processing error
6.3.4.1. Imputation - rate
6.3.5. Model assumption error
6.4. Seasonal adjustment
6.5. Data revision - policy

The central framework of the national accounts provides for a revision of the data for the last 3 years. In other words, the n + 3 data are definitive, n + 2 semidefinitive, n + 1 provisional. Some sources may not be available or are provisional within the n + 1 estimate, so revisions include more reliable data.
EAA data are derived from the central framework through the bridge table, so they follow the same revision policy.
6.6. Data revision - practice
6.6.1 Data revision - average size

Small revisions occurred for the adoption of ESA2010

 
6.6.2 Were data revisions due to conceptual changes (e.g. new definitions)  carried out since the last quality report? No
6.6.3 What was the main reason for the revisions?
6.6.4 How do you evaluate the impact of the revisions?
6.6.5 Additional comments

 

 


7. Timeliness and punctuality Top
7.1. Timeliness
7.1.1 When were  the first  results for the reference period published?

30/11/2017 (First estimate as requested by Reg. 138/2004).
7.1.2 When were  the final results for the reference period published?

30/09/2018 (as deadline of the Reg. 138/2004).
7.1.3 Reasons for possible long production times?
7.2. Punctuality
7.2.1 Were data released nationally according to a pre-announced schedule (Release Calendar)? Yes
7.2.2 If Yes, were data released on the target date? Yes
7.2.3 If No, reasons for delays?
7.2.4 Number of days between the national release date of data and the target date


8. Coherence and comparability Top
8.1. Comparability - geographical

To be assessed by Eurostat
8.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
8.2. Comparability - over time
8.2.1 Length of comparable time series

1980-2017
8.2.2 Have there been major breaks in the time series? No
8.2.3 If Yes, please specify the year of break and the reason
8.2.4 Additional comments
8.3. Coherence - cross domain
8.3.1 With which other national data sources have the data been compared?

Tax data (VAT), provisional list of agricultural enterprises (business volume)
8.3.2 Describe briefly the results of comparisons

High level of consistency
8.3.3 If no comparisons have been made, explain why
8.3.4 Additional comments
8.4. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
8.5. Coherence - National Accounts

Use of EAA-data in NA calculations

Are EAA used by NA as data source for Group 01 Degree of implication Please describe briefly the reasons
Output Not used
Intermediate consumption Not used
Fixed capital consumption Not used
Compensation of employees Not used
Taxes Not used
Subsidies Not used
Rents Not used
Interest Not used
Gross fixed capital formation Not used
Labour input Not used


Use of NA-data in EAA calculations

Are NA used as data source for EAA Degree of implication  Please describe briefly the reasons 
Output Only source used

EAA data are derived from NA data by applying a specific bridge table according to the related paragraph of EAA manual.
Intermediate consumption Only source used

EAA data are derived from NA data by applying a specific bridge table according to the related paragraph of EAA manual.
Fixed capital consumption Only source used

EAA data are derived from NA data by applying a specific bridge table according to the related paragraph of EAA manual.
Compensation of employees Only source used

EAA data are derived from NA data by applying a specific bridge table according to the related paragraph of EAA manual.
Taxes Only source used

EAA data are derived from NA data by applying a specific bridge table according to the related paragraph of EAA manual.
Subsidies Only source used

EAA data are derived from NA data by applying a specific bridge table according to the related paragraph of EAA manual.
Rents Only source used

EAA data are derived from NA data by applying a specific bridge table according to the related paragraph of EAA manual.
Interest Only source used

EAA data are derived from NA data by applying a specific bridge table according to the related paragraph of EAA manual.
Gross fixed capital formation Only source used

EAA data are derived from NA data by applying a specific bridge table according to the related paragraph of EAA manual.
Labour input Only source used

EAA data are derived from NA data by applying a specific bridge table according to the related paragraph of EAA manual.
8.6. Coherence - internal

Internal coherence is assured by controls during processing phases.


9. Accessibility and clarity Top
9.1. Dissemination format - News release
9.1.1 Do you publish a news release? No
9.1.2 If Yes, please provide a link
9.2. Dissemination format - Publications
9.2.1 Do you produce a paper publication? No
9.2.2 If Yes, is there an English version?
9.2.3 Do you produce an electronic publication? Yes
9.2.4 If Yes, is there an English version? Yes
9.2.5 Please provide a link

https://www.istat.it/en/archivio/215294
9.3. Dissemination format - online database
9.3.1 Data tables - consultations

data on consultations are not available
9.3.2 Is an on-line database accessible to users? Yes
9.3.3 Please provide a link

http://dati.istat.it/?lang=en  (theme "National Accounts", "Agriculture, forestry and fishing accounts")
9.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
9.4.1 Are micro-data accessible to users? No
9.4.2 Please provide a link
9.5. Dissemination format - other
9.6. Documentation on methodology
9.6.1 Are national reference metadata files available? No
9.6.2 Please provide a link
9.6.3 Are methodological papers available? Yes
9.6.4 Please provide a link

https://www.istat.it/it/files//2015/06/NOTA-INFORMATIVA_CONTI-AGRICOLI.pdf
9.6.5 Is a handbook available? No
9.6.6 Please provide a link
9.7. Quality management - documentation
9.7.1 Metadata completeness - rate
9.7.2 Metadata - consultations

data on consultations are not available
9.7.3 Is a quality report available? Yes
9.7.4 Please provide a link

https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/216348


10. Cost and Burden Top
10.1 Efficiency gains if compared to the previous quality report Increased use of administrative data
10.2 If Other, please specify
10.3 Burden reduction measures since the previous quality report None
10.4 If Other, please specify


11. Confidentiality Top
11.1. Confidentiality - policy
11.1.1 Are confidential data transmitted to Eurostat? No
11.1.2 If yes, are they confidential in the sense of Reg. (EC) 223/2009?
11.1.3 Describe the data confidentiality policy in place
11.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
11.2.1 Describe the procedures for ensuring confidentiality during dissemination
11.2.2 Additional comments


12. Comment Top


Related metadata Top


Annexes Top
ESQRS Annex for EAA - Additional Sources