THE Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) has finalised its data gathering of the agriculture sector and it is now analysing it before compiling a report.
Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli said that the DOSM's gathering of data is crucial in helping the country consolidate farming to ensure it can contribute to food security.
In the interim findings, Rafizi disclosed that the country had the wrong projection in the capacity of the agriculture sector to harvest enough produce for food security.
He was speaking at the 75th anniversary of DOSM which was graced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the Penang International Convention Centre in Butterworth.
According to Rafizi, DOSM is now an invaluable agency in helping the government make the proper decisions, especially on economic matters.
Up to October this year, Rafizi said that DOSM had produced 180 publications on data and statistics, the majority of which are for public consumption.
The information is made available through the DOSM online platform.
DOSM has also reached the capacity to produce district-level data including the gross domestic product (GDP) of each district in the country, said Rafizi.
It is also now able to produce an advanced forecast of the national GDP since last year, of which the data released is just a slight variation of 0.2% from the actual GDP output.
DOSM's reporting system is now widely accepted and respected by the public and this augured well for the government, which is relying on it to make sound decisions.
DOSM was also instrumental in churning out PADU - the one-stop data centre for Malaysians.
He also singled out DOSM chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin whose presentation of reports is respected by all parties including the Opposition.
Later, Mohd Uzir also said that DOSM has released its cost of living indicators report for last year to mark the celebration of its diamond jubilee today.
The report encompassed 15 publications for each state.
The data made known included basic expenditure of decent living and the cost of living index.
The demographics used were on various households, as well as income earned and locations of those polled. - November 2, 2024.
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