Abstract

This article aims the comparison of LSMS survey in Central American countries to increase current knowledge of survey methodologies and ensure the most efficient dissemination and utilization of the results.It will improve the availability,quality and relevance of agricultural data for policy and research in Central America. The criterion for this comparison consists of household survey data production,methodological validation/research,capacity building and dissemination. The integrated approach considers multi-topic questionnaire as agriculture plus non-farm, nutrition, interalia, consumption –based welfare measure, global strategy to improve Ag statistics.The methodological validation/research is an extension of LSMS IV for improvement of following measures: crop yields (plot size, quantities,measurement tool, diaries/crop cards, crop cutting),module development/sourcebooks (income source, fishery, livestock, and community governance/empowerment. The results would have the following priorities and principles: a)support and build longitudinal data systems that improve policy decision making, resource allocation, and priority setting, b) ensure free public access to all data as soon as possible, c) lower the costs of using data trough data access platforms, harmonization of methodologies, and through outreach and capacity building, d) capitalize on synergies from integrating different types of data (example,broad representative surveys as LSMS, more intensive surveys/sentinel sites, censuses, geospatial data, etc.)

Key words: Panel data, living standards measurement study (LSMS), LSMS-ISA, MECOVI (Regional program for improvement of surveys of living conditions in Latin America and the Caribbean).