Agriculture Census Scheme

Component-wise brief of the Scheme:

The Agriculture Censuses in India are being conducted quinquennially since 1970-71 as part of the World Census of Agriculture (WCA) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the U. N to collect key information about the structure of agriculture holdings in the country and monitor changes that take place over time. The present Agriculture Census with reference year 2015-16 is tenth in the series. Currently preparation for launch of the 11th Agriculture Census with reference year 2020-21 is in progress. The time series data generated through Agriculture Census provides valuable inputs for policymaking and tracks changes in the agriculture sector over the years. The basic statistical unit for data collection in Agriculture Census is “Operational Holding’ rather than ‘Ownership Holding’ as the farm level decisions are taken by persons who operate the land and not by those who own it.

Main objectives of Agriculture Census are:

1. To describe agricultural structure and related characteristics of agriculture by providing statistical data on operational holdings including land utilization, agricultural machinery and implements, use of fertilizers etc.
2. To provide benchmark data needed for formulating new agricultural development programs and for evaluating their progress.
3. To provide basic frames of operational holdings for carrying out future agriculture surveys, and
4. To Lay a basis for developing an integrated programme for current agricultural statistics.

Agriculture Census Scheme is a Central Sector Scheme and is being implemented as a component of ‘Integrated Scheme of Agriculture Census, Economics and Statistics’. 100 percent financial assistance is provided to States/ UTs for payment of salaries, office expenses, honorarium , tabulation and printing of schedules etc. based on previous year’s expenditure and requirement projected for the current year. The funds are released to States/UTs on quarterly basis.

The Agriculture Census is conducted in three distinct phases. The Phase-I data of Agriculture Census is collected following two broad approaches; in States where comprehensive land records exist (Land Record States), data is collected and compiled through re-tabulation of information available in the Village Land Records. For other States (Non-Land record States), the data is collected on sample basis following household enquiry method. The Phase-II of the Census collects data on sample basis from 20 percent villages on detailed characteristics of operational holdings such as tenancy status, land use, irrigation, cropping pattern etc.The Phase-III of the Census (referred to as Input Survey) is conducted as a follow-up survey to the Agriculture Census (reference year 2016-17) to collect data from 7 percent villages on the pattern of input use by operational holdings.

Funds released
Agriculture Census Scheme is a Central Sector Scheme and is being implemented as a component of ‘Integrated Scheme of Agriculture Census, Economics and Statistics’. In every States/UTs H.Q., the States/UTs nodal Department (Mostly State Revenue Deppt, State Directorate of Eco& Statistics) a skeleton State Agriculture Census Unit is maintained under concerned state administrative control. Such units are provided 100 percent financial assistance through Grant –In -Aid to States/ UTs for payment of salaries, office expenses, honorarium , tabulation and printing of schedules etc. based on previous year’s expenditure and requirement projected for the current year. The funds are released to States/UTs on quarterly basis.

Monitoring/Reporting mechanism

• Regular monitoring of the field work and data processing of Agriculture Census Scheme in different States/UTs
• Providing training to the officers of States/UTs for capacity development
• Providing necessary hardware and software to the implementing agencies for improving data processing infrastructure in States.
• Organization of regional meeting for scrutiny of data/finalization of results of Agriculture Census Scheme.

System of monitoring

• Through monthly, quarterly and annual reports on Physical and financial progress
• Through review meetings on regional and zonal basis
• Through field visits and interaction with the implementing agencies
• Through Video conferencing