Annual Report 2009-2010 - Department of Agriculture & Co-operation

21.1 The Agriculture Census forms part of a
broader system of collection of agricultural
statistics. It is a large-scale statistical operation
for collecting and deriving quantitative
information about various important facets of
agriculture in the country. As the agricultural
operational holding is the ultimate unit for taking
agriculture related development decisions at a
micro-level, it is treated as the statistical unit for
data collection. Data aggregation is done at
various levels of administrative units.
21.2 Periodic agriculture censuses are the
main source of information on basic
characteristics of operational holdings, such as
land use and cropping patterns, irrigation status,
tenancy, and terms of leasing. This information
is tabulated by different size classes and social
groups, including Scheduled Castes and
Scheduled Tribes to serve as an input for
development planning, socio-economic policy
formulation, and the establishment of national
priorities. The census also provides the basis for
the development of a comprehensive integrated
national system of agricultural statistics, linked
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Agricultural Census
to various components of the national statistical
system. The Agriculture Census of the country
is implemented in three distinct phases which
are statistically linked together, but focus on
different aspects of agricultural statistics. In
Phase-I, a list of holdings with their area, and the
social characteristics of holders is prepared. In
Phase-II, detailed data on agricultural
characteristics of holdings are collected from
selected villages. In Phase-III, data on input use
patterns are collected from selected holdings of
selected villages.
21.3 The Agriculture Census in India is
conducted following broad guidelines of the
decennial World Census of Agriculture
conducted by the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations. India is a
participant of the World Agricultural Census
Programme.
21.4 Since 1970-71, seven agriculture
censuses have been completed, and six input
surveys have been held since 1976-77. The 8th
Agriculture Census 2005-06 and 7th Input Survey
2006-07 are underway.
Agricultural Census
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