Agricultural Census (2021-22) — field work progress and policy use
Field work progress in the 11th Agricultural Census (2021-22) and its use in agricultural policy, land-use planning, and subsidy targeting
- The Agricultural Census is conducted every five years with the participation of States and Union Territories.
- The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has said that field work and data collection for all three phases of the 11th Agricultural Census have been completed within the time frame.
- Phase I collects primary characteristics of agricultural holdings and area operated on a complete enumeration basis.
- Phase II collects cropping pattern and irrigation status data from randomly selected 20% of sample villages in each Tehsil.
What happened
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has reported progress in the 11th Agricultural Census for the reference year 2021-22. According to the ministerial reply in the Lok Sabha, the field work and data collection for all three phases have been completed within the time frame.
India conducts the Agricultural Census after every five years in collaboration with the States and Union Territories. The census is one of the main official sources for understanding operational holdings, tenancy, land distribution, and the structure of farming in the country.
UPSC can frame questions on why agricultural statistics matter for land reform, irrigation planning, crop diversification, mechanisation, credit delivery, and gender-responsive agriculture. A Mains answer can also examine data quality, cooperative federalism in census work with States and Union Territories, and the gap between enumeration and actual policy use.
Related dispatches
