WCS to enable access to agricultural data is that of the nation-wide crop land
classification data, which usually consists of crop type information for each
gridded ground area (e.g., 30*30 m).
5.4.4 Statistical Standards and Methodological Guidelines
To ensure a consistency in the process of collecting, analyzing and disseminating
agricultural data, many international statistical standards, methodological guidelines,
and tools have been developed. Taking FAO Uni as an example, the major statistical
standards and guidelines are listed as the following.
• FAOSTAT Commodity List (FCL) contains a classification of the agricultural
commodities currently used by FAO (http://www.fao.org/waicent/faoinfo/
economic/faodef/faodefe.htm). It defines 12 Commodity Groups, including nuts
and derived products, oil-bearing crops and derived products, vegetables and
derived products, and fruits and derived products.
• The Central Product Classification (CPC) is developed and maintained by the
United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) (https://unstats.un.org/unsd/cr/
registry/cpc-2.asp). Its main purpose is to provide a framework for facilitating
the international comparison of product statistics and to serve as a guide for
developing or revising the existing classification schemes, in order to make them
compatible with international standards. In this standard, agricultural, forestry,
and fishery products are classified into section 0, which is further divided into
subgroups. For example, below is the classification information for watermelons.
Section: 0 – Agricultural, forestry, and fishery products
Division: 01 – Products of agriculture, horticulture, and market gardening
Group: 012 – Vegetables
Class: 0122 – Melons
Subclass: 01221 – Watermelons
• The Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS) is the trade
classification most widely used in the world (https://unstats.un.org/unsd/tradekb/
Knowledgebase/50018/Harmonized-Commodity-Description-and-CodingSystems-HS). Commodities are generally classified according to the raw or basic
material, to the degree of processing, the use or function, and economic activities.
At the international level, the Harmonized System (HS) for classifying goods is a
six-digit code system. For example, Watermelons in HS is:
• 080711
Fruit, edible; watermelons, fresh
Please note that HS is actually a detailed listing of commodities rather than a
proper classification for the purpose of organizing official statistics.
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Y. Bai
classification data, which usually consists of crop type information for each
gridded ground area (e.g., 30*30 m).
5.4.4 Statistical Standards and Methodological Guidelines
To ensure a consistency in the process of collecting, analyzing and disseminating
agricultural data, many international statistical standards, methodological guidelines,
and tools have been developed. Taking FAO Uni as an example, the major statistical
standards and guidelines are listed as the following.
• FAOSTAT Commodity List (FCL) contains a classification of the agricultural
commodities currently used by FAO (http://www.fao.org/waicent/faoinfo/
economic/faodef/faodefe.htm). It defines 12 Commodity Groups, including nuts
and derived products, oil-bearing crops and derived products, vegetables and
derived products, and fruits and derived products.
• The Central Product Classification (CPC) is developed and maintained by the
United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) (https://unstats.un.org/unsd/cr/
registry/cpc-2.asp). Its main purpose is to provide a framework for facilitating
the international comparison of product statistics and to serve as a guide for
developing or revising the existing classification schemes, in order to make them
compatible with international standards. In this standard, agricultural, forestry,
and fishery products are classified into section 0, which is further divided into
subgroups. For example, below is the classification information for watermelons.
Section: 0 – Agricultural, forestry, and fishery products
Division: 01 – Products of agriculture, horticulture, and market gardening
Group: 012 – Vegetables
Class: 0122 – Melons
Subclass: 01221 – Watermelons
• The Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS) is the trade
classification most widely used in the world (https://unstats.un.org/unsd/tradekb/
Knowledgebase/50018/Harmonized-Commodity-Description-and-CodingSystems-HS). Commodities are generally classified according to the raw or basic
material, to the degree of processing, the use or function, and economic activities.
At the international level, the Harmonized System (HS) for classifying goods is a
six-digit code system. For example, Watermelons in HS is:
• 080711
Fruit, edible; watermelons, fresh
Please note that HS is actually a detailed listing of commodities rather than a
proper classification for the purpose of organizing official statistics.
78
Y. Bai