agricultural statistics

1. A
Presentation
on
Need for Improvement of
Agricultural Statistics
By
Vijay Kumar, Adviser
Directorate of Economics and Statistics
Department of Agriculture & Cooperation
Ministry of Agriculture
New Delhi

2. I. Estimates of Area and Production of Major
Crops
Crops Covered
Rice, Wheat, Coarse Cereals, Pulses, Oilseeds,
Sugarcane, Cotton, Jute & Mesta
Time Schedule for release of Estimates
1st Advance Estimates : September/October
2nd Advance Estimates: December/January
3rd Advance Estimates : March/April
4th Advance Estimates : June/July
Final Estimates : December/January of
next year

3. Agencies Involved
State Departments of Economics &
Statistics/ Agriculture/Land Records who
supply area and production estimates
Department of Agriculture & Cooperation,
Government of India validates data sent
by States and compiles all-India estimates
Supplementary Information Used
Rainfall, Temperature, Inputs Data,
Historical Data, Estimates prepared by
other agencies

4. Field Supervision
State Government and NSSO officers check
area estimates and yield estimates based on
crop cutting experiments in the field on sample
basis

5. Problems
 Large variations in area coverage reported for
the same period, by different agencies of States.
For example, two Departments in MP reported
area estimates of 42.41 lakh hectares and 36.98
lakh hectares under wheat during January 2007
 Large variations in area and production
estimates reported over time.
For example, UP Government revised wheat
production estimates from 286 lakh tonnes to
225 lakh tonnes during 2004-05 from 2nd
estimate to 4th estimate
 Non-response, delayed response and large
variations without any explanatory notes.

6. II. Agricultural Census
Information Collected
Number and size of operational holdings, area
operated, tenancy and land use particulars,
irrigation sources, use of inputs.
Agencies Involved
 State Departments of Revenue/ Agriculture/
Planning/ Economics & Statistics conduct
census operations
 Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, GOI
coordinates work at the all-India level and brings
out reports.

7. Problems
Low priority given by State Authorities to this
work
Low rates of honorarium to field level
functionaries leading to lack of interest by field
officials
Patwaris in the States are entrusted with lot of
revenue and other works like drought, flood,
elections etc. in addition to their own duties.
This causes delay in Agricultural Census
work.
Lack of computerisation of land records
Absence of legislation for conducting census
operations like population census

8. III. Horticulture Data
Crops Covered
Fruits, Vegetables, Flowers, Spices, Plantations,
Nuts, Mushroom, Honey
Agencies Involved
 State Departments of Horticulture/Agriculture
 National Horticulture Board, Arecanut and
Spices Board, Department of Agriculture &
Cooperation of GOI

9. Problems
 Incomplete coverage
 Frequent data revision
 Variation in data from different sources
 No mechanism to check data inconsistencies
 Delay in collection and release of data
 Absence of sound methodology

10. IV. Suggestions for Improvement
 Due priority to agriculture statistics needed for
sound policy decisions
 A mechanism needed at State level for validating
State level data after due coordination with
agencies concerned and using supplementary
information
 Computerisation of data processing and data
dispatch needed for reducing delays and errors
 Data need be collected timely and as per
prescribed methodology for maintaining credibility

11. Thank You !!!