Paraguay to boost availability and quality of agricultural data with support from IDB

Paraguay aims to enhance the availability and quality of agricultural data to support decision-making by public- and private-sector actors, with the help of a $15 million loan approved by the Inter-American Development Bank.

The project will finance implementation of the census system and farming surveys. Agriculture is a key sector of the Paraguayan economy, accounting for 25% of GDP, 30% of all jobs and 60% of exports.

The last farm census was carried out in 2008 and does not reflect the country’s current status, so it is necessary to strengthen the national system for gathering agricultural data.

The program will finance the design and implementation of the farm census with an emphasis on guaranteeing quality, proper coverage of farm issues, and timely and broad release of the information that is generated. It will provide the sampling framework for carrying out farm surveys. Innovations planned for the new census are an electronic questionnaire and on-site data-gathering through the use of mobile devices.

It will also have a transversal approach with regard to gender, so as to give visibility to women and broaden their participation, both as producers and workers. And all pertinent information will be broken down by the indigenous community. The new system will also provide reliable data on issues of adaptation to climate change.

Furthermore, the project will support the institutional strengthening of agencies involved in farm data and will benefit 300,000 agricultural producers, public- and private-sector institutions and other actors in the farm chain.

The $15 million IDB loan is over 24 years, with a six-year grace period and an interest rate based on the Libor.

Original source: IDB
Published on 1 December 2017