11th Agriculture Census

In Context

• Recently, the Eleventh Agricultural Census (2021-22) was launched.

About

• A census of agriculture is a statistical operation for collecting, processing and disseminating data on the structure of agriculture, covering the whole or a significant part of the country.
• Agriculture Census is conducted every 5 years, which is being undertaken now after delay due to the corona pandemic.
• Since the launch of the first Agriculture Census in 1970-71, India has conducted ten Agriculture Censuses so far and the present census with reference year 2020-21 is the 11th Census.
• Agriculture Census is organized by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture.

11th Agriculture Census

• This is the first time that data collection for agricultural census will be conducted on smartphones and tablets, so that data is available in time.
• Most of the 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.

World Census of Agriculture

• The International Institute of Agriculture conducted the first Programme for the World Census of Agriculture (WCA) in 1930. 
• Beginning with 1950, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has been preparing and advocating the decennial World Programme for the Census of Agriculture (WCA).
• The concept of agricultural operational holdings adopted in India differs to some extent with that of FAO, as it does not include those holdings which are not operating any agricultural land and are engaged exclusively in the poultry, livestock & fishing etc.

Source: PIB