AGRICULTURE CENSUS IN INDIA U.C. Sud Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi-110012 Introduction Agriculture sector forms an important component of the Indian economy. The contribution of agricultural sector towards the GDP is to the tune of 14%. Majority of the Indian population lives in villages. Farmers actually involved in cultivation (called operational holder) generally have low level of income. Therefore, all programmes of development of agriculture sector are launched with a eye on the operational holder. Thus, reliable data base on the operational holders is a pre-requisite for decision making in this sector. Keeping this in view, the agricultural census scheme was launched in the year 1970-71 for providing reliable data on socio-economic aspects of operational holder. Since 1970-71 the agricultural census in India is conducted once in five years after with operational holder as the ultimate unit of sampling as opposed to the ownership holding. An operational holding is defined as all land, which is used wholly or partly for agricultural production and is operated as one technical unit by one person alone or with others without regard to title, legal form, size or location. The ninth agricultural census with reference year 2010-11 is currently being organized. The reference period of the agricultural census is the agricultural year i.e. Ist July to 30 th June. Agriculture Census in India forms part of World Agriculture Census programme of FAO. However, the World census of agriculture is recommended to be carried out decennially. The reason for gap of only five years between two consecutive census in India is that the structure of holdings changes very fast i.e. too much fragmentation in too little time! Methodology used in Agricultural Census Scheme The Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India is the central agency for execution of the scheme of Agricultural Census. The Agricultural Census Division in the Ministry provides all technical and administrative support to the various States/UTs. The field work of the census is largely carried out by the primary worker in the Department of Land Revenue. The agricultural census is carried out in three phases. The different States/UTs can be broadly divided into two categories for the purpose of conduct of agricultural census. The phase-i of the agricultural census is carried out following a complete enumeration approach in those States/UTs where the comprehensive land records are maintained (land record states). While in rest of States/UTs where the system of maintenance of land records is not in vogue, a sample survey approach is used for data generation in phase-i. Majority of the land area of the country falls under the category of land record states. All the parcels belonging to an operational holder in a tehsil are pooled in respect of land record states. The pooled parcels are shown at the village of residence of the operational holder. The phase-ii and phase-iii of the census are carried out following a sample survey approach. A variety of data are collected in the census operation. In Phase-I data are collected on operational holder and area operated, gender and social group of the operational holder. Phase-1 data is by and large collected from the land records on complete enumeration basis in land record states. However, in non-land record states the data is collected on the basis of 20% sample. In some of the states a two-stage sampling design is used for data collection. Besides, household approach is followed in the non-land record states. The data in Phase-II is 162
collected on the basis of 20% sample of villages. These 20% villages are the same as selected in TRS scheme. Data in this phase is collected on tenure, tenancy, land use, irrigation, crop areas etc. The Phase-III data popularly known as input survey is collected on the basis of a sample of 7% villages and within a selected village 20 land holdings are selected 4 each from marginal, small, semi-medium, medium and large category. The reference year for input survey is the year after the reference year of agricultural census. The detailed data compiled under phase-i provides the sampling frame for the selection of the sample. Since there is a gap of one year between phase-i and input survey, the available frame is updated before the selection of the sample. The data under input survey is restricted only to the resident operational holder. Data under this phase are collected on agricultural inputs like seeds, fertilizers, pesticides etc. as per the standard land holding classification, agricultural credit, farm implements and machinery and livestock. From the year 2000-01 the L3 schedule has been modified so that information on village infrastructural facilities like community ponds in the village maintained by panchayats/local body for fishing, number of godowns, cold storage, fertilizer/pesticide dealers, seed dealers, agriculture credit institutions, veterinary centers, regulated marketing centers and connectivity of village to roads etc. can be collected. For smooth, timely, and accurately collecting the census data instruction manuals are devised. These are prepared bilingual. The manuals are prepared separately for land and non-land record states and are provided in advance to the officials in the States/UTs. The instruction manuals are prepared in a simple language and items in the questionnaire are explained in detail. However, the manual for input survey are common for the two categories of States. In view of the variety and complexity of data collected in census, training is provided phasewise to the enumerators involved in census work. The various concepts and definitions and method of data collection are explained in detail in the training sessions. In fact the training is imparted at various levels. Computerisation of Census Data The rapid improvement in electronic data processing has greatly facilitated the task of data processing. However, the proper choice of hardware - whether personal computers or main frame computers- requires knowledgeable input. While considering the hardware requirements, the main characteristics of census data processing which are kept in mind are (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) Large amount of data to be entered in a short time. Large amount of data storage required Relatively simple transactions Relatively large number of tables to be printed Extensive use of raw data files which need to ne on-line, if possible. Data entry, which refers to transfer of data from questionnaires to the computer-readable media, is one of the greatest time and resource consuming phases of data processing. Considerable time is required to write computer programmes for data entry, error identification, automatic error correction (if applied), tabulation and calculation of sampling 163
error etc. The computer software is thoroughly tested before actual use. The main task of software in census data processing is (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) Data entry Data validation/cleaning Automatic data correction (when applied) Data tabulation Presentation of data for printing In addition, in case of sample enumeration, estimates have to be expanded and provision for calculating expansion factors and sampling errors is required. The data processing work of current Agriculture Census is being done by NIC under an MOU signed between Department of Agriculture and Cooperation and the NIC. Data Dissemination Three reports are brought out containing the Agriculture Census data:- (i) (ii) (iii) All India Report on number and area of operational holdings. All India Report on Agriculture Census. This report contain farm characteristics. All India Report on Input Surveys. For wider dissemination of the information to general public, policy planners, researcher etc, the results of Agriculture Census and Input Survey have been put-up on the Department s website http://agcensus.nic.in. One can get the data of Agriculture Census with reference years 1995-96 and 2000-01 and Input Survey with reference years 1996-97 and 2001-02 on this website. Also, All India Reports on Agriculture Census and Input Survey, Schedules and Manual of Instructions of Agriculture Census and Input Survey have also been put-up on the web. 164
TABLES GENERATED THROUGH AGRICULTURE CENSUS Table Description User/Uses No. Phase-I 1 Number and Area of Operational Holdings For planning and resource allocation to states for developmental schemes/relief works. Phase-II 2(A) 2(B) Number and Area of Operational Holdings by Tenancy Status Leased in Area by Terms of Leasing Used by Ministry of Rural Development for monitoring land holding pattern and for implementing land reforms. 3 Area under Different Land Use Ministry of Land Resources and Land use Board. 4 Number of Operational Holdings by Irrigation For planning and targetting of Status irrigation programmes for 5(A) Number of operational holdings receiving irrigation and area irrigated by different sources various groups/crops. Pattern and source of irrigation. 5(B) Number of wells and tube wells 6 Irrigated and unirrigated area under different crops 7 Number and area of operational holdings according to dispersal of operated area For monitoring impact of land ceiling and consolidation Acts. 8 Information on village level infrastructure For preparing programmes for development of rural areas. all the tables give data by size group and social group. In addition, table-1 gives data on gender and types of holdings, viz., individual, joint and institutional. 165
TABLE GENERATED THROUGH INPUT SURVEY Table No. Phase-III (Input Survey) Description User/Uses 1 Number of parcels per operational holding and average area per parcel by size groups 2(A) Area cropped once and more than once in irrigated area by size groups 2(B) Area cropped once and more than once in unirrigated area by size groups 3 Area under all crops and usage of chemical fertilizers by size groups 3(A) Area under all crops treated with Ammonium Sulphate/Urea/Super Phosphate/DAP etc by size groups 4 Area under various crop and usage of chemical fertilizers by size groups 4(A) Area under various crop treated with Ammonium Sulphate/Urea/Super Phosphate/ DAP etc by size groups 5(A) 5(D) Area under all crops treated with FYM/ Compost/Biogas, oil cakes and other organic manures by size groups Area under all crops treated with Pesticides/ IPM by size groups 5(E) Area under various crop treated with FYM/ Compost/Biogas Manure, oil cakes and other organic manures by size groups 5(H) Area under various crop treated with Pesticides/IPM/Green Manure/Rizobium/ Azetobactor/Blue Green Algae by size groups 6(A) Number of cattle reported by operational holdings by size groups 6(B) Number of buffaloes reported by operational holdings by size groups 6(C) Number of livestock (other than cattle and buffaloes) reported by operational holdings by size groups 7 Number of Agricultural machinery and implements used by operational holdings by size groups 8 Institutional credit taken by operational holders for Agricultural purposes by size groups To measure degree of scatteredness of land. Cropping intensity by irrigation status in various parts of the country. For planning of production, import and distribution of chemical fertilizers. Used by Department of Fertilizers. For information on maintenance of soil quality. For monitoring the environment quality. For information on trends in use of various pesticides in various crops. Soil fertility status and use of organic material for maintenance of soil quality. Used by DAC & ICAR. Holding pattern of animals. Department of Animal Husbandry. Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, for knowing use of animal vs. machine power in Agriculture. For targeting schemes through which subsidy on agricultural implements is given. Used by Ministry of Agriculture/NABARD/RBI. 166
Table No. Phase-III (Input Survey) Description User/Uses 9(A), (B), (C) Use of certified seeds Used by Ministry of Agriculture and ICAR for estimating the demand supply position of certified seeds. 9D Methods of pest control Used by Ministry of Agriculture and ICAR. 10 Educational status of operational holders For information on how educated and technically qualified is operational holder. It helps in formulating programmes for targeted groups considering their educational status. Year Table-1 Number of Holdings and Operated Area, India Agriculture Census 2000-01 Number of Area operated holdings (million) (in million ha) Average area per holding (in ha) 1970-71 71.0 162.1 2.28 1976-77 81.6 163.3 2.00 1980-81 88.9 163.8 1.84 1985-86 97.2 164.6 1.69 1990-91 106.6 165.5 1.55 1995-96 115.6 163.4 1.41 2000-01 119.9 159.4 1.33 Table-2 Distribution of Number of Holdings and Area Operated in India, 2000-01 Size group Number of holdings (in million) Area operated (in million hectares) Average area per holding Percentage of holdings to total holdings Percentage of area operated to total area Marginal 75.41 29.81 0.40 62.88 18.70 (Below 1.0 ha) Small 22.69 32.14 1.42 18.92 20.16 (1.0 2.0) Semi-medium 14.02 38.19 2.72 11.69 23.96 (2.0 4.0 ha.) Medium 6.58 38.22 5.81 5.48 23.97 (4.0 10.0ha.) Large 1.23 21.07 17.12 1.03 13.22 (10.0 ha. & Above) All holdings 119.93 159.44 1.33 100.00 100.00 167
Evaluation of the Agriculture Census Scheme The agriculture census scheme provides useful data for planning purpose. Although a wealth of information is generated under the agricultural census scheme and the data base generated is used for variety of purpose, there are some problems with the scheme which sometimes diminish the utility of the census results. One of the main problems is the delay in the release of the census results. The users expectations are that the census results be made available within two years of the actual conduct of census work. However, in general, the census results are released more than four years after the actual conduct of the census work. As the census work is largely record based, the quality of census data depends on the data quality of the records which may not meet the desired standards in some cases. Further, the National Statistical Commission (National Statistical Commission Report (2001) has recommended that some of the data items pertaining to farm population should be captured in the agricultural census scheme. The Food and Agricultural Organization has also identified many indicators on which data need to be collected. It is noteworthy that unlike many other schemes being run by the Ministry of Agriculture, the Agricultural census scheme has not so far been reviewed by any committee constituted by the Govt. of India. Further, since 1970-71, considerable changes have taken place in the economy of the country and the way agriculture is practiced. There is, therefore, a need to revisit the agriculture census scheme to identify weak areas and suggest improvements. While considering the continuation of agricultural census scheme in the XIth plan, the standing finance committee in its meeting held on 4 th August, 2010 under the Chairmanship of Secretary (A&C) recommended the evaluation of the scheme. Accordingly, the study entitled Evaluation of Agricultural Census Scheme was awarded to the Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute with the following terms and conditions: Examine methodology, including sampling design and estimation procedure, being followed in the scheme. Examine number and type of data items being collected in the scheme. Examine arrangement / method of data collection and make assessment of data quality. Examine adequacy of administrative set-up in Department of Agriculture & Cooperation (DAC) and the States/UTs for collection of data. Examine arrangements of data processing with special reference technology used and time taken. to volume, Examine whether objectives of the Agriculture Census Scheme have been met and suggest improvements in the scheme, if necessary. Further, five land-records and at least three non-land-record States from different regions would be selected for the purpose of Evaluation Study. The evaluation study has been completed by the IASRI and the final report is being prepared. Useful recommendations have been made to improve the organization, actual conduct and improvement in data quality and data processing aspect of census. The author gratefully acknowledge some of the material provided by the Agricultural Census Division, DAC, Ministry of Agriculture 168