29 Jul 11th Agriculture Census in the country
11th Agriculture Census in the country
Ministry: Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare launches the 11th Agriculture Census in the country
Objective: Prime Minister’s focus is on increasing farmers’ income and empowering them by organizing small farmers
New Feature: For the first time, data collection for agricultural computations will be done on smartphones and tablets
Agriculture Census Overview
Recognizing the importance of the agriculture sector in the economy, the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare has been implementing the Agriculture Census Scheme since 1970-71.
Agriculture Census in India has been Conducted following broad guidelines of the decennial World Census of Agriculture (WCA) evolved by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations conducted at an interval of five years. In this Census, the operational holding has been taken as a statistical unit at the micro-level for data collection as operational holding is the ultimate unit for taking agriculture-related decisions.
Periodic Agriculture Censuses are the main source of information on basic characteristics of operational holdings such as land use, cropping pattern, irrigation status, tenancy and dispersal of holdings, etc. This information is tabulated by different size classes and social groups and serves as input for development planning, socio-economic policy formulation, and establishment of national priorities. The Census also provides the basis for the development of a comprehensive integrated national system of agricultural statistics.
So far, ten Agriculture Censuses since 1970-71 have been conducted in the country. The last Census was held in 2015-16.
The Agriculture Census Scheme was converted from a Centrally-Sponsored Scheme to a Central Sector Plan Scheme in 2007-08. Accordingly, 100 percent financial assistance is provided to States/ UTs for payment of salaries, office expenses, honoraria, tabulation, and printing of schedules, etc.
The Eleventh Agricultural Census (2021-22) was launched in the country by the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar.
This computation will bring huge benefits in a vast agricultural country like India. Shri Tomar said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi emphasis is being given to increasing farmers’ income. Besides, there is a need to change their standard of living, organize small farmers in order to empower them, attract them towards remunerative crops and ensure the quality of the produce at par with global standards.
During the program, Shri Tomar conveyed his greetings for the Agriculture Census and said that the Agriculture sector is reaping the fruits of concrete steps taken by Prime Minister Modi, and the country is rapidly moving towards digital agriculture. This is the time to make full use of technology in this computation. He said that the Agriculture Census should be thought of from a broader perspective. Agricultural computations can also contribute to the mapping of crops so that the country gets its benefits. Shri Tomar asked the Central Departments, State Governments, and concerned institutions to carry out this census with full dedication.
On the occasion, Shri Tomar released the Handbook on Operational Guidelines for Census for the use of States/UTs and launched the Data Collection Portal/App.
Agriculture Census is conducted every 5 years, which is being undertaken now after a delay due to the corona pandemic.
The fieldwork of the agricultural census will start in August 2022.
Purpose
Agricultural Census is the main source of information on a variety of agricultural parameters at a relatively minute level, such as the number and area of operational holdings, their size, class-wise distribution, land use, tenancy, and cropping pattern, etc. This is the first time that data collection for the agricultural census will be conducted on smartphones and tablets, so that data is available in time.
Most States have digitized their land records and surveys, which will further accelerate the collection of agricultural census data. The use of digitized land records and the use of mobile apps for data collection will enable the creation of a database of operational holdings in the country.
During the technical session, the salient features of the Agriculture Census Implementation Procedure and web portal and mobile app were demonstrated. The new initiatives highlighted in the presentation include the use of digital land records like land title records and survey reports, the collection of data through app/software using smartphone/tablet, complete enumeration of all villages in states with non-land records during Phase-I as done in states having land records, and real-time monitoring of progress and processing.
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