Experience of the Agricultural Census 2004 in Georgia in the light of the conceptual framework of the Strategic Plan Department of Statistics, Ministry of Economic Development of Georgia Ministry of Economic Development of Georgia by George Kvinikadze by George Kvinikadze Head, Agricultural and Environmental Statistics Division,

Background  Population of Georgia is about 4.4 million, territory about 70 thousand sq. km  The share of Agriculture in GDP decreased from above 20% in nineties to slightly below 10% at present  The percentage of population engaged in some way in agricultural production is quite stable, a little bit above 50%  Above 95% of agricultural production falls on about household holdings

Census of Agriculture 2004 in Georgia  Census was conducted in rural area and in small towns whose lifestyle is close to rural  Five big cities of Georgia accounting for about 40% of the total population were not covered  In fact that was a kind of rural census: enumerators were given not a list of holdings but a concrete area to determine households and offices with agricultural holdings enumerators were given not a list of holdings but a concrete area to determine households and offices with agricultural holdings even for households without agricultural holdings demographic and food security data were collected even for households without agricultural holdings demographic and food security data were collected Scope of the census

Census of Agriculture 2004 in Georgia  There was no minimum size restriction on holdings  Therefore, except for coverage of five big cities, the census was in line with the Strategy recommending inclusion of all agricultural production units “regardless of size and location” Coverage of the census

Census of Agriculture 2004 in Georgia  Initially 12 pages questionnaire was intended but financial restrictions reduced it to 2 pages  2 questions about food insecurity and vulnerability to food insecurity were included  In a way the census was pioneering the new modular approach of FAO to agricultural censuses  The census questionnaire could be an example of the core module Content of the census

Next Census of Agriculture in Georgia  Will be conducted together with population census  About one page will be added to the population census questionnaire  Gains: Solution of the scope problem Solution of the scope problem Substantial cost reduction Substantial cost reduction Substantial increase of the potential for analysis Substantial increase of the potential for analysis  This also is in line with the recommendation of the Strategy

Conceptual issues  Two kinds of statistical units for agricultural statistics in the broader sense Agricultural holdings (to cover issues related with agricultural production) Agricultural holdings (to cover issues related with agricultural production) Rural households (to cover issues related with socio-economic aspects of rural area including rural development, rural employment, rural poverty and food security, etc.) Rural households (to cover issues related with socio-economic aspects of rural area including rural development, rural employment, rural poverty and food security, etc.)  The frames for both units may be provided from the combined population and agricultural census exercise. 1. Statistical units

Conceptual issues 1. Statistical units Agricultural holdings Agricultural holdings in the household sector Agricultural holdings in the non-household sector

Conceptual issues Agricultural households Rural households 1. Statistical units Households

Conceptual issues  In the census the approach “one household – one holding” was used (except the joint holders situation when several households operate one holding)  This approach is justifiable from socio- economic point of view  It is also easy to implement in the field  However, it created problems in tabulation of census results for small territorial units when a household had land in several territorial units 2. Linkage between agricultural households and agricultural holdings operated by them

Conceptual issues  The solution may be to attribute to an agricultural household as much single household holdings as there are territorial units (for tabulation) it has land in.  This approach is easy to implement in the field during the combined population- agricultural census exercise  The linkages maybe incorporated in both agricultural holdings’ and households’ frames  It is flexible since the holdings operated by one households may be easily merged depending on survey tabulation needs 2. Linkage between agricultural households and agricultural holdings operated by them

Conceptual issues 3. Linkage with SNA Agricultural holding= agricultural establishment Agricultural holdings in the household sector= unincorporated agricultural establishments Agricultural holdings in the household sector= incorporated agricultural establishments

Conceptual issues 3. Linkage with SNA Agricultural holder= Institutional unit Agricultural households, part of the SNA household sector Legal and other persons, part of the SNA non-financial corporations sector

Conceptual issues  Units engaged only in providing services by their own agricultural machinery. Such units maybe should be included since their omission leads to distortion of such important agricultural indicator as number of agricultural machinery available for agriculture Such units maybe should be included since their omission leads to distortion of such important agricultural indicator as number of agricultural machinery available for agriculture  Units engaged only in renting agricultural land to other units Such units may not be included since their omission does not distort land area indicators Such units may not be included since their omission does not distort land area indicators 4.Should some agricultural services activities included in the broader scope of agriculture?

Conceptual issues  Units engaged in vine production.  Slaughterhouses  Maybe another option could be better coordination with other statistics when integrating agricultural statistics into the overall statistics system 5.Should activities of processing primary agricultural products included in the broader scope of agricultural statistics?

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