In Funafuti, Tuvalu, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is supporting the country’s first National Crops and Livestock Census by providing technical and methodological assistance in collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources Development, the Central Statistics Division, and the Pacific Community (SPC). A training program has been launched to equip field staff with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to collect accurate and high-quality census data. FAO Subregional Coordinator for the Pacific Islands, Guangzhou Qu, emphasized that the census is not only about counting farms and animals but also about building a solid evidence base to support a resilient and prosperous agricultural sector in Tuvalu.
The census, scheduled for 2026, will be the first nationwide effort to record all agricultural holdings, including crops, livestock, and other on-farm activities. The data collected will enable the Government of Tuvalu to make informed decisions regarding food security, farmer and livestock support, and agricultural policy, while also contributing to the country’s reporting on Sustainable Development Goals. Approximately 1,800 households across Funafuti and the eight outer island groups—Nanumea, Nanumaga, Niutao, Nui, Vaitupu, Nukufetau, Nukulealae, and Niulakita—will participate in the census.
To carry out the data collection, 40 enumerators will be deployed using tablet computers and GPS tools. Well-trained field staff are expected to ensure consistent and accurate recording of household and farm information, improving operational efficiency, particularly in remote locations. The training aims to prepare enumerators to collect data systematically, while also instilling the understanding that their work contributes to a historic national initiative.
Beyond training, FAO’s support includes developing and testing the census methodology, preparing questionnaires and data collection tools, and assisting with data processing, analysis, reporting, and results dissemination. This support is provided under FAO’s Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP), which since 1976 has offered targeted technical expertise to member countries to address immediate and specific needs, ensuring that Tuvalu can effectively carry out this landmark census.
