Census Themes 6 and 7 - Agricultural Practices and Services : Technical Session 9

Regional Roundtable on
World Programme for the Census of Agriculture 2020
Budapest, Hungary
3-7 April 2017
Theme 6 and 7: Agricultural practices
and Services for Agriculture
Technical Session 9
Oleg Cara
Agricultural Census and Survey Team
FAO Statistics Division
1

Contents
 Background
 Importance of the theme
 Items, concepts and definitions
 Country experiences
2

Background
 In the WCA 2020 Programme this theme has been
extended to better cover some critical elements of
sustainability in production systems.
 Five new items appear in comparison with the
last WCA Programme.
3

Importance of the theme
 Countries are more and more aware of the role of
agricultural practices in assuring sustainability of
agricultural production systems.
 Data collected through the agricultural census:
 help to measure the adoption of and transition to
improved agricultural practices and structural changes
that increase and improve the provision of goods and
services in agriculture in a sustainable manner.
 contribute to defining and measuring key indicators of
resource use efficiency and resilience.
4

Items
Theme 6 comprises :
 12 items included specifically in the theme
 5 items related to agricultural practices which correspond to other
themes:
− Whether agroforestry is practised (1304 - Theme 13)
− Type of animal grazing practices (1501-Theme 15);
− Use of each type of fertilizer (0411-Theme 4);
− Area fertilized (0412-Theme 4)
 Items on Irrigation (Theme 3)
5

Items (contd.)
The 12 items specific to Theme 6 are:
0601 Use of agricultural pesticides
0607 Use of organic agricultural
practices
0602 Use of genetically modified
seeds
0608 Type of seed for each major
crop type
0603 Use of genetically modified
seeds according to crop type
0609 Source of seed inputs for each
major crop type
0604 Selected machinery and
equipment used on the holding by
source
0610 Types of tillage practices
0605 Non-residential buildings
0611 Presence of conservation
agriculture
0606 Percentage of each major
agricultural product sold
0612 Presence of soil conservation
practices 6

Item 0601: Use of agricultural pesticides
(for the holding)
Type: Essential item
Reference period: census reference year
Concept: Pesticides are materials intended to
mitigate, control or eliminate pests in plants or
animals, or to control the behaviour of physiology of
pests or crops during production or storage.
Pesticides may be:
• Insecticides (substances used to kill/repel insects)
• Herbicides (substances used to destroy or inhibit
the growth of plants such as weeds)
• Fungicides (substances that destroy or inhibit the
growth of fungi)
• Rodenticides (substances used to
kill/repel/control rodents)
• Other
7

Item 0602: Use of genetically modified (GM)
seeds (for the holding)
Type: Frame item
Reference period: census reference
year
Concept: This item relates to whether
any GM seeds were used on the
holding. GM crops are grown from
GM seeds which are developed and
proprietary by the private sector and
which poses a novel combination of
genetic material obtained through the
use of modern biotechnology
8

Item 0603: Use of genetically modified (GM)
seeds according to crop type (for the holding)
Type: Additional item
Concept: This item relates to what types
of GM seeds were used on the holding. It
identifies the specific types of GM crops
that are grown using GM seeds.
9

Item 0604: Selected machinery and
equipment used on the holding by source
(for the holding)
Concept: This item identifies machinery and equipment
used on the holding, wholly or partly for agricultural
production. It should exclude:
 Machinery and equipment used exclusively for purposes other
than agricultural production
 Machinery and equipment owned by the holder but not used
It includes all machinery, equipment and implements.
Note: In Vol I, Annex 7 a classification of machinery and
equipment is provided in order to help identify the type of
machinery and equipment to take in the census.
10

Item 0604: Selected machinery and
equipment used on the holding by source
(for the holding) contd.
Concept: Source refers to the means by which the
holder obtained the right to use the specific item.
The following categories are suggested:
 Owned solely by the holder or members of his
(her) household;
 Owned by the holding jointly with other
holdings;
 Provided by the landlord;
 Provided by other private holders (excluding
cooperatives);
 Provided by a cooperative;
 Provided by a private agricultural service
establishment;
 Provided by a government agency.
11

Item 0605: Non-residential buildings
(for the holding)
Concept: This item identifies non-residential
buildings used by the holding, wholly or partly for
agricultural purposes.
Notes:
 The item covers all non-residential buildings
regardless of their physical location
 Buildings such as “community storage
facilities” should be included as “other tenure”
form;
 Non-residential buildings used exclusively for
purposes other than agricultural purposes
should be excluded.
Data to collect: Number, tenure and size of each
building.
12

Item 0605: Non-residential buildings
(for the holding) (contd.)
Type of non-residential building:
• For keeping livestock other than poultry
(area)
• For keeping poultry (area)
•For storing agricultural products (area and
volume)
•For mixed or other purposes (area)
Type of tenure:
•Owned
•Rented
•Other
13

Item 0606: Percentage of each major
agricultural product sold (for the
holding)
Reference period: any suitable reference period, such as
the main harvest or the census reference year.
Ranges: Usually, this item is collected in ranges, such as
0-19 percent;
20-49 percent;
50 percent or more.
Where is this item important? In countries with
significant home consumption of agricultural produce.
Which products should include? Only the most
important staple food crops (such as rice, wheat, maize or
cassava).
14

Item 0607: Use of organic agricultural
practices (for the holding)
Reference period: census reference day
Concept: Organic agriculture is a holistic
production management system which
promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem
health, including biodiversity, biological
cycles and soil biological activity*. It
includes working toward the achievement of
socially, ecologically and economically
sustainable agro-ecosystems such as by not
using chemical fertilizers, pesticides or GM
crops.
15

Item 0607: Use of organic agricultural
practices (for the holding) contd.
Data collection should include:
• Certified organic by a third party accredited
certification body or authority or through
Participatory Guarantee System (PGS).
• In-conversion to certified organic: covering
producers undergoing a conversion process to organic
agricultural systems certified by third party
certification bodies.
• It is also possible to recognize non-certified (de
facto) organic agriculture or products, which
involve agricultural production systems that follow
the principles of organic production but are not
certified by a certification body or PGS. It excludes
systems that do not use synthetic inputs by default
(e.g. systems that lack soil building practices and
degrade land).
16

Item 0608: Type of seed for each
major crop type (for the holding)
Concept: This item refers to whether certified seeds
are being used and whether it belongs to a modern or
farmer’s variety. Certified seeds are those that have
been certified according to the national certification
system.
Types of seeds:
• Certified seed of modern variety;
• Uncertified seed of modern variety (high
yielding or high-response varieties);
• Uncertified seed of farmer’s variety
(landraces or traditional)
• Other.
17

Item 0609: Source of seed inputs for
each major crop type (for the holding)
Concept: This item refers how seeds were acquired. The term
“seed” in this context refers to any planting material: seed,
seedlings, cuttings, small plants or trees
Types of sources:
• Self-production: obtained by setting aside a portion of
the previous year crop for use as seed for the current
crop;
• Exchanges with community: seeds obtained through
loans, gifts or other forms of reciprocal assistance;
• Local market: seeds purchased from markets,
itinerant traders or localized trade networks;
• Seed company: seeds purchased from a seed producer
or supplier through a commercial arrangement;
• Donation: from national or international institutions.
18

Item 1304: Whether agroforestry is
practiced (for the holding)
This item corresponds to Theme # 13 (Forestry)
Type: Frame item
Concept: Agroforestry is a sustainable land management
system in which forest species of trees and other wooded
plants are purposely grown on the same land as agricultural
crops or livestock, either concurrently or in rotation.
Agroforestry has impact on soil, water, plants, animals and
atmospheric relations, constituting a sustainable agricultural
practice.
19

Item 0610: Types of tillage practices
(for the holding)
Type: Additional item. New item.
Concept: Tillage refers to arable land of the holding
sown/cultivated in the census reference year. It is the
physical loosening of the soil carried out in a range of
cultivation operations, either by hand or mechanized.
Which is the reason to include this new item?
Tillage practices are controversial: it was traditionally seen as useful and necessary but when
inappropriately practiced, it is one of the major reasons for soil erosion and land degradation.
It is a common understanding that tillage practices should be reduced to a minimum in order to
achieve sustainable intensification of agriculture.
20

Item 0610: Types of tillage practices
(for the holding) contd.
Types of tillage practices:
• Conventional tillage (turning over of the soil over the whole area using tillage tools or
equipment such as: mouldboard, disc plough, rotovator, etc. or traditional ploughs of
either wood or iron, drawn by animal power;
• Conservation (low) tillage which is a tillage practice or practices that leave plant
residues (at least 30-35 %) of the soil surface for erosion control and moisture
conservation. It can include:
Reduced/minimum tillage: there is no soil inversion and causes little compaction but it
leaves some ripping lines (the soil normally remains with a good cover of residues on the
surface). A ripper is usually used;
Strip tillage: strips are tilled to receive the seed and the soil along the bands is not
disturbed;
Ridge tillage: system of ridges and furrows. The ridges can be permanent or be constructed
each year.
• Zero tillage or no tillage: does not involve any tillage operations on arable land. After
the seeding operation, not more than 25% of the soil surface is allowed to be disturbed.
21

Item 0611: Presence of conservation
agriculture (for the holding)
Type: Additional item. New item
Concept : In addition to sustainable tillage practices, it is
also important to keep soils covered for protecting them
from the impacts of climatic conditions in order to achieve
sustainable intensification of agriculture.
Three Conservation Agricultural Principles:
• Zero/no tillage (Item 0610) in combination with
• Crop rotations (Item 0612)
• Permanent soil cover.
22

Item 0612: Presence of soil
conservation practices (for the holding)
Concept : Soil conservation is a sustainable practice to
prevent and reverse soil degradation through
appropriate land use and management practices. It
includes prevention and reduction of soil erosion,
compaction and salinity, conservation or drainage of
soil water.
Types of soil conservation practices:
• Crop rotation: growing of alternating species or
families of crops in a specific in a planned pattern or
sequence.
• Terracing: terraces on slopping lands mainly used
for erosion control and for growing crops.
23

Item 1501: Type of animal grazing practices
(for the holding)
This item correspond to Theme # 15 (Environment, GHG
emissions).
Concept : Animal grazing is practically the only source of
feed for livestock raised under the grazing system (Item
0501).
Which is the reason to include this new item? Animal
grazing has a significant impact in the quality of pastures
which can be non-degraded, moderately degraded or
severely degraded. Combining this information with Theme
5 (Livestock) improves estimation on the status of pastures.
24

Items 0411 & 0412: Use of each type of
fertilizer and area fertilized for each type of
fertilizer and major crop type (for the holding)
These items correspond to Theme # 4 (Crops).
Type:
• Use of fertilizers: Essential item.
• Area fertilized: Additional item.
Reason to include these items in Theme #6. Use of
fertilizers and whether organic or inorganic practices are
followed is important for understanding of sustainable
agriculture practices.
25

Irrigation
It corresponds to Theme # 3 (Irrigation).
Irrigation practices are important for
understanding of sustainable agriculture practices.
Relevant items are covered in Theme 3.
26

Country experiences
Montenegro: Agricultural Census 2010
• Use of fertilizers: area fertilized and quantity applied by type of fertilizers:
a) mineral; b) natural fertilisers (solid and liquid)
• Tillage methods used for arable land
• Type of animal grazing practices
• Use of agricultural pesticides
• Non-residential buildings: for livestock; storage facilities for natural
fertilisers; other facilities/buildings
• Use of organic agricultural practices
• Selected machinery and equipment
• Percentage of crop and livestock products sold by
selling points (to shops, other holdings, to cooperatives, etc.)
• Irrigation (irrigated area by main crops; irrigation methods)
• Use and type of agricultural pesticides (area treated)
27

Regional Roundtable
World Programme for the Census of Agriculture 2020
Budapest, Hungary
3-7 April 2017
Oleg Cara
Agricultural Census and Survey Team
FAO Statistics Division
Theme 7: Services for Agriculture
Technical Session 9
28

Contents
 Background
 Importance of Theme 7
 Items
 Concepts and definitions
 Country experiences
29

Background
Theme 7 refers to services provided for agricultural
production mainly from:
• Suppliers of credit;
• Agricultural information services;
• Agricultural extension services.
It also comprises information about travelling time to nearest
agricultural produce market.
The theme retains all items as in the WCA 2010.
30

Importance of Theme 7
• The knowledge of services provided to agriculture is an
important input for decision makers and researchers in order
to assess their influence in agricultural practices and in the
final output of agriculture.
• A map of the coverage of services can be designed from the
information provided by the census of agriculture. Such a
map is an important tool for decision-makers.
31

Items
Theme 7 comprises the following items (all of them to be
taken for the holding):
• 0701 Receipt of credit for agricultural purposes
• 0702 Sources of credit
• 0703 Type of collateral for credit
• 0704 Period of loan or credit
• 0705 Sources of agricultural information
• 0706 Sources of agricultural extension services used
• 0707 Travelling time to nearest periodic or permanent
agricultural produce market for selling products.
32

Concept of credit for agricultural
purposes
Credit for agricultural purposes refers to any type of credit approved and
available for purposes related to the operation of the agricultural holding.
Notes:
•It includes: credit for purchasing crop and livestock inputs, constructing farm
buildings, purchasing farm machinery.
•It does not include: credit not related to agricultural operations such as for
construction of holder’s house, for other family businesses or for
consumption expenditure.
•The term “credit” is used widely to cover the approved ability to borrow
money directly as well as buying goods and services on credit.
•Loan is a subset of credit and means financial resources in cash provided by
formal or informal sources. “Credit” includes loans (in cash) and any other
loan in-kind in the form, for example, of inputs, equipment and machinery.
33

Item 0701: Receipt of credit for
agricultural purposes (for the holding)
Type: Additional item.
Reference period: Census reference year.
Concept: Receipt of credit refers to whether the agricultural
holder used a loan for agricultural purposes during the
reference year and not whether there were outstanding loans
at the time of the census. Credit received by the holder as well
as members of his/her household should be included.
34

Item 0702: Source of credit (for the
holding)
Concept: Source of credit, refers to who provided the credit. The specific
source class will depend on the institutional arrangements for credit in
the country.
Typical groups are:
Note: A holder may have made use of credit on more than one occasion
during the census reference year and therefore more than one source
may be reported.
• Commercial bank
• Agricultural development bank
• Cooperative credit society
• Money lender
• Input supplier
• Self-help group
• Family/friends;
• Government
• Other sources.
35

Item 0703: Type of collateral for credit (for the
holding)
Concept: Collateral is defined as assets pledged as security for a loan of money. It means
that if the borrower defaults on the terms of the loan, the collateral may be sold and the
proceeds used to pay off the loan.
Notes:
In the context of the census, “ collateral” is used in a wider sense to also cover a
guarantee provided for the purchase of goods and services.
Types of collaterals are:
 The holder’s land
 Other assets such as the machinery and equipment purchased with the loan;
 Other type of collateral (purchase of goods and services on credit based on
agreements to pay at a later date).
Credit may be received without any collateral on a personal guarantee basis.
A holder may have made use of credit on more than one occasion during the census
reference year and therefore more than one type of collateral may be reported. 36

Item 0704: Period of loan or credit (for
the holding)
Concept: This item refers to the period over which the loan or credit is to
be paid off as agreed at the time the loan was received.
Note: If the credit was received more than once during the reference year,
the period to be reported is the one for the loan or credit of highest value.
Typical ranges for reporting on this item are:
•Less than 12 months
•12-35 months
•36 months or more.
37

Item 0705: Sources of agricultural information
(for the holding)
Concept: This item refers to where the holder received information to help
manage the agricultural holding.
Sources of agricultural information are:
Examples of type of information included: weather; selection of crop varieties;
new agricultural practices; farm machinery; credit facilities; plant diseases and
pests; marketing; commodities and crop varieties promoted by the government.
• Extension services
• Radio
• Television
• Newspapers
• Agricultural newspapers
• Input agencies
• Internet
• Other farmers
• Other
38

Item 0706: Sources of agricultural extension
services used (for the holding)
Concept: Agricultural extension refers to the provision of agricultural advice
and information to crop and livestock producers.
Providers of extension services:
• Government institutions; Non-government institutions; Farmer
organizations; Educational institutions; Informal grassroots
organizations; Other
Typical source categories are :
• Government organization:
o For crop production
o For livestock production
• Farmer association
• Other
39

Item 0707: Travelling time to nearest periodic or
permanent agricultural produce market for selling
products (for the holding)
Ranges suggested to express the travelling time are:
• Up to 30 minutes
• More than 30 to 60 minutes
• More than 60 to 120 minutes
• More than 2 hours.
Notes:
This item is included to help assess how easy is to farmers to access markets.
Sometimes, travelling times vary according to, for example, the wet and dry seasons
and some countries may wish to collect these data for the different seasons.
Periodic or permanent agricultural produce market refers to a market where farms can
bring their produce for sale and they may operate every day or on certain days of the
week.
40

Country experiences
Montenegro, Agricultural Census 2010
Use by holding of:
• Services in crop production (e.g. tillage, use of fertilisers and pesticides)
• Services in livestock production (grazing, feeding cattle, etc.)
• Services of producers’ associations (purchase of machinery, etc.)
• Bank services (use of loans for agricultural production), etc.
Support (subsidies) for:
• Livestock production
• Crop production
• Investment in agriculture through rural development measures
• Organic agriculture
• Using of mountain pastures, etc.
41

Census Themes 6 and 7 - Agricultural Practices and Services : Technical Session 9

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