A set of brand new tablets has quietly entered Samoa’s national statistics office, but their purpose is anything but ordinary. These devices, gifted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), are part of a broader effort to transform how Samoa collects and uses information about agriculture, food, and rural livelihoods.
The Samoa Bureau of Statistics (SBS) accepted the equipment at a formal handover ceremony in Apia. Representing FAO, Forestry Officer Raushan Kumar delivered the devices, which will now support the 2025 Samoa Agriculture Survey and other essential field work. With these digital tools, enumerators will be able to gather data more accurately and efficiently, improving the quality of statistics that feed into national planning.
SBS Acting Government Statistician Laulu Siala Lova welcomed the support and acknowledged the years of collaboration that have shaped the relationship between the two organisations. He also paid tribute to FAO’s International Statistics Specialist, Guy Oswald Obama, for his technical guidance throughout the design of the survey.
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Kumar, speaking during the handover, underscored the deeper value of this partnership. The goal is not just modern equipment, but a new standard of data collection that is cleaner, faster, and more environmentally sustainable. He hinted at further support coming Samoa’s way, including drone technology and extended technical assistance.
What’s unfolding is more than a logistical upgrade. Behind these efforts is a shared belief in using data to drive smarter policies. As agriculture faces challenges from climate, land use, and economic change, the ability to collect and interpret quality information becomes essential, not just for government but for farmers, families, and communities across Samoa.
This partnership is a quiet investment in Samoa’s long-term development. The impact won’t be visible on a screen or in a press release, but in the choices made by leaders who will rely on the data to steer the country forward.
