A nationwide census on agriculture is to be conducted to provide complete and reliable data to aid effective policy decisions.

Ghana Statistical Service would undertake the activity together with Food and Agriculture Ministry and the funding would come from Food and Agriculture Organisation.

A statement issued in Kumasi by Mr Emmanuel George Ossei, Ashanti Regional Statistician, said it would involve the collection, processing, publishing and dissemination of information on the structure of agriculture and the state of development in the rural areas.

The data would be taken directly from households and other information from the communities, mainly on the geography, availability of basic facilities, socio-economic conditions, transport infrastructure, community services, potentials for development and constraints.

In preparation towards this a “users and producers dialogue” would be held in Kumasi on Monday, June 23. The event would also see the inauguration of the Regional Management Team.

The statement said the census would facilitate proper monitoring of development programmes for growth to open up the rural areas.