The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) of the United States Department of Agriculture was requested to assist the Government of Nicaragua in developing an intensive and statistically sound crop and livestock estimating program. The collaboration of work was with the Ministry of Agriculture, Central Bank of Nicaragua, United Nations Development Program, and the United States Agency for International Development. This report describes area frame point sampling and its advantages and disadvantages as applied to Nicaragua. Area frame point sampling is one method of area frame sampling. In this method, random points are selected within the boundaries of each stratum. The enumerator determines who operates the land where the point falls, then interviews the operator to determine the agricultural activity on that entire farming operation. Since this method does not rely on physical features to define the sampling unit, it is especially applicable in areas lacking permanent physical boundaries. The frame is easily constructed and sampled. These were major factors for selecting this design for the Nicaraguan project. The point-based area survey which combine's probability proportional to size sampling and broad application of sampling frame techniques has proven useful in improving the statistical procedures used in Nicaragua. Plans are to conduct agricultural surveys on a semiannual basis (fall and spring) to provide a measure of basic grain production for an entire crop year and inventory of livestock.