Agriculture Census 2015-16
The data is collected on the primary and secondary levels on the structure of operational holdings. Operational holdings include all the land which is used completely or partially for agricultural production.
It is divided into three categories of states for data collection:
- First Category States: Revenue agency collects land holdings as a part of land records, done by village officials. Data are aggregated at the level of tehsil, district, and state by the officers of revenue and agricultural departments.
- Second Category States: Information is collected on a sample area under principal crops and land utilization. States like West Bengal, Orissa, and Kerala.
- Third Category States: States and UTs mostly in the Northeastern region (Except Assam), data is collected based on the personal knowledge of revenue officers and agricultural officers.
Agriculture Census of the India
Agriculture is the primary source of the Indian economy. Agriculture employs 58% population of the country and contributes 19.9 % of the total GDP. 70 % of the rural household depends on agriculture.
The agriculture census is the main source of the information at a very minute level. It collects data regarding land holdings, land use, class-wise distribution, tenancy, crop pattern, use of fertilizers, and insecticides. An agricultural census is conducted after every five years. The first census was done in the 1970s and the reference year for the same was 1970-71. It is part of the program of the world census of agriculture. Funds for the census are provided by the center to the state and the entire work is conducted by states. The authority responsible is the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture.