10.1 The Agriculture Census Scheme a component of Integrated Scheme on Agriculture Census, Economics and Statistics is aimed to collect information related to structural characteristics of operational holdings in the country. As part of World Agriculture Census (WCA) programme, first comprehensive Agriculture Census was carried out in the country with Agricultural Year 1970-71 as the reference year. Since then, the Agriculture Census is conducted at five yearly intervals and the current Agriculture Census 2015-16 is tenth in the series.
10.2 The concepts and definitions used in the Indian Agriculture Census are broadly in conformity with those adopted in the World Census of Agriculture. The constituent activities of the Agriculture Census Programme are carried out in three distinct Phases which are statistically linked together. The basic statistical unit for data collection in Agriculture Census is ‘Operational Holding’ rather than
‘Ownership Holding’, as the farm level decisions are taken by persons who operate land and not by those who own it.
10.3 Time series data generated through the Agriculture Census provides valuable information on structural changes on characteristics of Agricultural operational holdings in the country. Periodic Agriculture Census is the main source of information on number, area and other basic characteristics
of operational holdings such as land use, cropping pattern, irrigation & tenancy status, pattern of input use etc.
10.4 The Agriculture Census data is collected following a Census-cum-Sample Survey approach, after completion of the reference year. During Phase –I of the Census, data on primary characteristics of operational holdings, like number of holdings and area operated by different size class (marginal, small, semi-medium, medium and large), social groups (SC, ST, Others), gender (male/
female), types of holding (individual, joint and institutional), etc. is collected. The second Phase of the Census collects data on detailed characteristics of operational holdings such as, land use, irrigation status, tenancy particulars, cropping pattern etc.
10.5 Phase-III of Agriculture Census, (referred
Accordingly, 100 per cent financial assistance is provided to States/ UTs for payment of salaries, office expenses, honoraria, tabulation and printing of schedules, etc.
Agriculture Census 2015-16
10.7 The tenth Agriculture Census with reference year 2015-16 is progressing in the country. The progress of constituent activities of Agriculture Census 2015-16 is given below:
� Field work for Phase-I of the Census has been completed in all States, except for a few.
� Data for Phase-I of the Census have been tabulated and trial results generated for 14 States / UTs. In the remaining States, data collected /compiled and processed for generation of results.
� The collection and compilation of data for Phase-II of the Census is also progressing in various States/UTs.
� Data collection instruments, (schedules, manual of instructions etc.) for Input Survey 2016-17 finalized and training programme for all State Technical Officers conducted.
� After completion of the reference year in July, 2017, data collection for Input Survey 2016-17 started.
� National level review meetings on Agriculture Census 2015-16 organized to assess status of various constituent activities, to provide guidance, and to streamline the constituent activities.
� At the State / UT level, the State Level Coordination Committee (SLCC) under the Chairmanship of State Agriculture Census Commissioner reviews the work of Agriculture Census for timely
� Other measures taken for monitoring the work of Agriculture Census include field visits, regular interaction with implementing agencies, fortnightly and monthly reports on physical and financial progress etc.
Gender Perspective in Agriculture Census
10.8 Since 1995-96 following recommendations of the Central Statistics Office, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, gender based data in Agriculture Census have been collected. The scope of collection of gender based data have been restricted to number of operational holdings, corresponding operated area by different size classes of holdings, social group (SC, ST and others), and types of holdings (individual, joint and institutional).
Percentage of female operational holdings as per results of latest Agriculture Census 2010- 11 and Agriculture Census 2005-06 is given in the following table-
Sr. No. Size Group 2005-
06* 2010-11 1 Marginal
(Below 1.00 ha.) 12.60 13.63 2 Small
(1.00-2.00 ha.) 11.10 12.15 3 Semi-Medium
(2.00-4.00 ha.) 9.61 10.45
4 Medium
(4.00-10.00 ha.) 7.77 8.49 5 Large
(Above10.00 ha.)
6.00 6.78
All Size Groups 11.70 12.78
* Excludes Jharkhand
Increase in percentage of female operational holders during different Agriculture Censuses indicates participation of more and more women in operation and management of
Agriculture Census in North Eastern States (NE):
10.9 Agriculture Census is conducted in all the North Eastern States. The constituent activities of current Agriculture Census with reference year 2015-16, are progressing in all the N-E States.
In the States of Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland, the trial results for Phase-I of the Census have been generated and are scrutinized for finalization. For the remaining States, collection / compilation and processing of data are in progress.
Appendix-II Sl. No. Year No. of Paras/
PA reports on which ATNs
have been submitted to PAC after
vetting by Audit
Details of the Paras/PA reports on which ATNs are pending
No. of ATNs not sent by the Ministry even for the
first time
No. of ATNs sent but returned
with observations
and Audit is awaiting
their resubmission
by the Ministry
No. of ATNs which have been finally
vetted by audit but have not been submitted by
the Ministry to PAC So far as Agriculture Census is concerned nothing is pending.
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11.1. The Government has been playing an important role in developing Agriculture Marketing system in the country. The Marketing Division of Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) is entrusted with implementation of policy and programme relating to Agricultural Marketing.
Agriculture sector needs competitive and well- functioning markets for farmers to sell their produce. In order to remove restrictive and monopolistic practices of present marketing system, to reduce the intermediaries in supply chain, to reduce wastages by way of promoting integrated supply and value chain and to benefit farmers through access to global markets, reforms in agricultural markets have to be an ongoing process. There is a need to enhance private sector investment in development of post- harvest marketing infrastructure for which various schemes are also implemented.
11.2 Agricultural Marketing Reforms:
a) Sustainable growth and development of agriculture and allied sectors directly affect well-being of farmers and rural people at large, their prosperity and employment and also forms an important resource base for a number of agro-based industries and agro-services.
With coordinated and integrated efforts made by policy makers, agricultural scientists and more so by farmers, the food grain production has gone up substantially and growth of horticulture crops has surpassed even the food grains production and productivity.
Considering this, present government
has made a paradigm policy shift from merely ensuring food security to nutritional and price security. For facilitating better value of the produce by the farmers, accessible, competitive, efficient and barrier free markets with adequate marketing infrastructure and real time market information is being considered instrumental to supplement the Government’s effort towards doubling of farmers’ income in a time bound manner. In order to realise the same, reforms in agricultural marketing sector is considerate important.
b) As a part of reform agenda, Department with the objectives to create barrier free market, enhance competition &
transparency in transactions and widen choices to farmers for sale of their produce, launched National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) on 14th April , 2016.
Only those States/UTs are eligible to link their markets to e-NAM portal, which have undertaken reforms in their APMC Acts in respect of (i) e-trading; (ii) single point levy of market fee across the State;
(iii) single unified trading license valid across the State. To strengthen the reform process, revamp other reforms agenda and back up this e-NAM project through facilitative legal framework & policy in this sector, Department has formulated a new Model APLM Act 2017.
c) Status of progress of reforms with respect to 7 vital areas identified by the Department is given in the table below –