13: Agriculture Census in India

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 30th 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

13: Agriculture Census in India

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)

Large amount of data to be entered in a short time.

(ii)

Large amount of data storage required

(iii)

Relatively simple transactions

(iv)

Relatively large number of tables to be printed

(v)

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

13: Agriculture Census in India

error etc. The computer software is thoroughly tested before actual use. The main task of
software in census data processing is
(a)

Data entry

(b)

Data validation/cleaning

(c)

Automatic data correction (when applied)

(d)

Data tabulation

(e)

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)

All India Report on number and area of operational holdings.

(ii)

All India Report on Agriculture Census. This report contain farm characteristics.

(iii)

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 Departments
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

13: Agriculture Census in India

TABLES GENERATED THROUGH AGRICULTURE CENSUS
Table
Description
No.
Phase-I
Number and Area of Operational Holdings
1

User/Uses

For planning and resource

allocation
to
states
for
developmental schemes/relief
works.

Used by Ministry of Rural

Development for monitoring
land holding pattern and for
implementing land reforms.
Ministry of Land Resources
and Land use Board.
For planning and targetting of
irrigation programmes for
various groups/crops.
Pattern and source of irrigation.

Phase-II
2(A)

Number and Area of Operational Holdings by

Tenancy Status

2(B)

Leased in Area by Terms of Leasing

Area under Different Land Use

Number of Operational Holdings by Irrigation

Status

5(A)

Number of operational holdings receiving

irrigation and area irrigated by different sources

5(B)

Number of wells and tube wells

Irrigated and unirrigated area under different

crops

Number and area of operational holdings

according to dispersal of operated area

For monitoring impact of land

ceiling and consolidation Acts.

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

13: Agriculture Census in India

TABLE GENERATED THROUGH INPUT SURVEY
Table
Description
No.
Phase-III (Input Survey)

User/Uses

Number of parcels per operational holding and

average area per parcel by size groups
Area cropped once and more than once in
irrigated area by size groups
Area cropped once and more than once in
unirrigated area by size groups
Area under all crops and usage of chemical
fertilizers by size groups
Area under all crops treated with Ammonium
Sulphate/Urea/Super Phosphate/DAP etc by size
groups
Area under various crop and usage of chemical
fertilizers by size groups
Area under various crop treated with Ammonium
Sulphate/Urea/Super Phosphate/ DAP etc by size
groups

Area under all crops treated with FYM/

Compost/Biogas, oil cakes and other organic
manures by size groups

5(D)

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
Area under various crop treated with
Pesticides/IPM/Green Manure/Rizobium/
Azetobactor/Blue Green Algae by size groups
Number of cattle reported by operational
holdings by size groups
Number of buffaloes reported by operational
holdings by size groups
Number of livestock (other than cattle and
buffaloes) reported by operational holdings by
size groups
Number of Agricultural machinery and
implements used by operational holdings by size
groups
Institutional credit taken by operational holders
for Agricultural purposes by size groups

1
2(A)
2(B)
3
3(A)

4
4(A)

5(A)

5(H)

6(A)
6(B)
6(C)

166

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.

13: Agriculture Census in India

Table
Description
No.
Phase-III (Input Survey)

User/Uses

Use of certified seeds

9D

Methods of pest control

10

Educational status of operational holders

9(A),
(B),
(C)

Used
by
Ministry
of
Agriculture and ICAR for
estimating the demand supply
position of certified seeds.
Used
by
Ministry
of
Agriculture and ICAR.
For information on how
educated
and
technically
qualified is operational holder.
It
helps
in
formulating
programmes
for
targeted
groups
considering
their
educational status.

Table-1

Year

Number of Holdings and Operated Area, India

Agriculture Census 2000-01
Number of
Area operated Average area per
holdings (million)
(in million ha) holding (in ha)

1970-71
1976-77
1980-81
1985-86
1990-91
1995-96
2000-01

71.0
81.6
88.9
97.2
106.6
115.6
119.9

162.1
163.3
163.8
164.6
165.5
163.4
159.4

2.28
2.00
1.84
1.69
1.55
1.41
1.33

Table-2
Distribution of Number of Holdings and Area Operated in India, 2000-01
Size group

Marginal
(Below 1.0 ha)
Small
(1.0 2.0)
Semi-medium
(2.0 4.0 ha.)
Medium
(4.0 10.0ha.)
Large
(10.0 ha. & Above)
All holdings

Number
of
holdings
(in
million)

Area
Average
operated area per
(in
holding
million
hectares)

Percentage
of
holdings
to total
holdings

Percentage
of area
operated
to total
area

75.41

29.81

0.40

62.88

18.70

22.69

32.14

1.42

18.92

20.16

14.02

38.19

2.72

11.69

23.96

6.58

38.22

5.81

5.48

23.97

1.23

21.07

17.12

1.03

13.22

119.93

159.44

1.33

100.00

100.00

167

13: Agriculture Census in India

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 4th 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