SAMPLING FRAMES
AAIC has been in operation since 1983. The main area of AAIC's expertise is the construction of national and project level area frames (AF) and the operation of agricultural and environmental surveys. These activities are carried out with the full participation of foreign governments and by design involve a considerable component of technology transfer. Established AAIC systems generate agricultural production statistics in operational settings with less than 5% error. Some important AAIC activities include:

• Conducting data user requirement studies generally involving: Ministries of Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, Commerce, Economics and Planning, the Central Bank, commodity traders, farmer's associations, farm suppliers, and other users. This activity is essential for proper survey design.
  
• Constructing area frames (AF) using satellite imagery, topographic maps, and aerial photos. Adaptation of existing digital materials for the purposes of the AF is another option.
  
• Constructing list frames and implementing multiple frame sampling (MFS). During this stage the survey timing and the sample approach for the list frames are defined.
  
• Calculating sample allocation and sample selection using optimum design. This system works in principle as a nested analysis of variance. The design is based on probability sampling and it is robust enough to allow for optimal sample allocation, emphasizing cost reduction and control of nonsampling errors.
  
• Designing questionnaires tailored to particular conditions and timing of the survey, type of sampling segment, and variables to be researched. Questionnaires are written in the local language and allow for easy computer data entry.
  
• Training personnel provided by client governments for managerial and supervision posts, as well as providing workshops for field interviewers.
  
• Defining logistic needs to be provided by client governments, including working facilities, computer needs, and timing of vehicles and field expenditures.
  
• Conducting surveys in cooperation with client governments. Surveys are conducted for planting and harvesting times. AAIC also manages other specialized surveys such as crop yield and economic surveys.
  
• Analyzing data and integrating survey results into a usable form as requested in the data user requirement study. This activity includes such items as definition of content and timing of basic agricultural production, specialized information, statistics, farmer's bulletin, etc. The qualitative aspects of the data collected, summarized, stored, and analyzed are primary project objectives. Typically, an efficient data collection system evolves after several interactions of survey operations. Survey operations are fine tuned using estimators and variances. Improved methods include data collection, summarization, and storage.
  
• Developing an agro-economic analysis of production and trends when requested by client governments.
  
• Ensuring quality control of the project at every stage.
  
• Integrating satellite imagery that allows small area estimates to be made with more accuracy than can be accomplished without satellite imagery.