First survey of American Samoa agriculture in 10 years shows 6,000+ farms

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The 2018 Census of Agriculture for American Samoa found that of the more than 6,000 farms in the territory, over $44 million was the total value of production from the surveyed farms, according to data released Tuesday by the US Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

“The Census of Agriculture is the only source of comprehensive and impartial agricultural statistics about American Samoa,” said NASS administrator Hubert Hamer in a national news release announcing the results of the census, which is the first update to agricultural data for American Samoa in over 10 years.

Data for the territory’s agriculture census were collected in accordance with a cooperative agreement approved by the Director of the Census and Survey Division of NASS and by the ASG Commerce director.

According to NASS’ 140-page information-sheet, the 2018 census provides data on production and value of agriculture both for sale and for home consumption. “The data for home consumption reflects the importance of this sector of agriculture in American Samoa, where a majority of households provide a portion of their food needs through agricultural activities that may fall outside the commercial marketplace,” it says.

Additionally, home consumption data are useful for agencies and organizations estimating total economic output.

“One of the most important uses of the census data is to justify claims of farmers who may suffer damages and losses due to natural disasters, such as typhoons,” according to NASS, which points out that the 2018 census is the 12th census of agriculture of American Samoa, but only the fourth to be conducted strictly as a census of agriculture.

NASSS explained commercial farms are defined as those with sales of $100 or more, and noncommercial farms are those with less than $100 in sales. The federal agency points out that many of the commercial farms produce more for home consumption than for sale, but by virtue of having sales in excess of $100 are classified as commercial.

Data shows that there were 6,329 farms in the 2018 census, up 489 farms from the last census. Of the total farms, data shows that 1,485 are commercial farms (compared to 1,968 in 2008) and 4,844 are non-commercial farms (compared to 3,872 in 2008).

It also notes that total value of production was $44.3 million, with an average value of $6,994 per farm. Additionally, land in farms totaled 14,404 acres, with an average farm size of 2.3 acres. Furthermore, fruits and nuts represented the largest category of production, with a value of $20.5 million.

The census provides a wide-range of data about the type of farms — such as field crops (melons and vegetables); fruits, nuts, and ornamental plants and nursery; livestock, chickens and chicken eggs; fish and other aquaculture products. And it also breaks down these farms — including agriculture produce —per district and per county.

As expected, the highest number of farms is in the western district, which is the most populated district with more land.

Other issues covered in the census, is computer use by the farms, equipment use and specific facilities, paid workers and days worked, and the type of land ownership — for example, communal and non-communal; land rented from others and land rented to others.

Visit www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus to review data and other information from the Census of Agriculture program.

Besides American Samoa, the NASS also released on Tuesday results of the 2018 agriculture census for Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI)

American Samoa has the highest number of farms compared to CNMI with 253 farms - virtually unchanged from the last census; Guam — with a population of more than 150,000 — has  264 farms, up 160 farms from the last census; and the USVI with 565 farms, up 346 farms from the last census.