On 7 July, we officially commenced a two-week training program for enumerators and supervisors of the 2025 Samoa Agriculture Survey (SAS) — a vital national initiative to update Samoa’s agricultural data since the last Census in 2019.
The training was officially opened by Government Statistician Leota Aliielua Salani, who reminded participants that “the data you collect forms the foundation of decisions that impact our farmers, households, and communities.” He emphasized the importance of honesty, respect, integrity, and accountability throughout the data collection process.
We were honoured to be joined by our key partners — the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) through the Tautai Facility, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Mr. Greg Furness of DFAT highlighted that agriculture is “a fundamental catalyst for economic growth and development in Samoa,” and reaffirmed Australia’s continued support for strengthening Samoa’s national statistics system. He also emphasized the critical role of agriculture in food security, income generation, and export growth.
Mr. Guy Oswald Obama, Statistician at FAO’s Subregional Office for the Pacific (SAP), highlighted the SAS as a strategic investment in understanding Samoa’s agricultural landscape. He underscored that the data collected will support livelihoods, guide effective policies, and ensure alignment with Samoa’s development goals and global frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This training aims to equip field teams with the tools and knowledge required to confidently administer the SAS questionnaire and ensure high-quality data collection for informed, evidence-based decision-making. We wish all enumerators and supervisors a successful and productive training period. Together, we are paving the way for the successful implementation of the 2025 Samoa Agriculture Survey!
