Workshop on World Programme for the Census of Agriculture 2020

Bangkok, Thailand19-23 September 2016

Jairo CastanoSenior Statistician Leader, Agricultural Census and Survey TeamFAO Statistics Division

Methodological ConsiderationsTechnical Session 3

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Contents• Background

• Overview of census modalities: description, implementation steps, advantages, disadvantages and requirements

1. Classical approach

2. Modular approach3. Integrated census/survey modality4. Combined agriculture census with use of administrative

sources• Country examples

Background• The present Programme broadens the approaches

introduced in the previous one, acknowledging that the census of agriculture can be conducted in different ways, using four main modalities:Classical approachModular approachIntegrated census and survey programmeCombined census with use of administrative sources

• Main aim is to help countries to implement a census in most efficient way, taking into account countries’ particular conditions.

Overview of census modalitiesi) The classical approach: a census conducted in a single one-off operation (usually by complete enumeration) comprising the universe of agricultural holdings. It should cover all essential items and may include additional items.ii) Modular approach: comprises: a) a core module undertaken by complete enumeration including all frame items and eventually other items; and b) supplementary modules targeting specific populations identified through the frame provided by the core module.iii) The integrated census and survey programme: integrates a multi-year programme of censuses and surveys. One option is AGRIS, a modular survey programme which has to be articulated with the agricultural census programme and conducted on an annual basis between two censuses. iv) Combined census with use of admin sources: registers and other administrative sources are used as a source of census data in combination with field data collection.

Comparison of census modalitiesClassical

Modular Integrated census/survey

Combined with admin

Enumeration phases

One-off field operation

Multiple phases:a) core moduleb) supplementary module(s)

Multiple phases:a) census core moduleb) rotating thematic modules

One or more field operations and use of admin sources

Coverage of items

All census items collected during a one-off operation

Core module includes items required at the lowest geo/admin level, and those to establish frames for the supplementary module(s)

Census core-module includes items required at the lowest geographic/admin level, and those to establish frames for rotating thematic module(s)

Census items are collected through field operation and use of administrative sources.

Enumeration method

Complete enumeration exclusively or combined with sample enumeration

Complete enumeration for core module and sample enumeration for supplementary modules(s)

Complete enumeration for census core module and samplingfor rotating thematic modules

Complete enumeration exclusively or combined with sample enumeration

Alternative census modalities• The classical approach is the most extensively used census

modality. However, more and more countries would use alternative census modalities in the near future.

• There are important reasons for using alternative census modalities:

i. budget limitation for census,

ii. need to produce more frequent and timely agricultural statistics,

iii. fast growing digital and mobile technology;

iv. increasing availability and access to data from administrative sources and technical capacities to handle such data;

v. reluctance of some population groups to participate in the census and need to reduce respondent burden.

Some common issues for any census modality • Identify data content of the census:

o The minimum requirement for a census, is to include all essential items,

in order to enable international comparison and frame items for census

modules or/and follow up surveys o The final list of census items should be established in consultation with

main stakeholders depending on country’s requirements, availability of

reliable administrative and other data sources, financial and other

resourceso In countries with well-developed registers, the use of administrative

data sources (ADS) to cover census data items should be considered .

Some common issues for any census modality (cntd.)

• The frame for the agric. census must be carefully established to ensure that all holdings are covered with no omissions or duplications.

•Use of sample enumeration efficiency considerations (precision versus costs), other elements should be taken into

account, such as:

desired level of aggregation for census data

use of the census as a frame for ongoing sample surveys

data content of the census and

capacity to deal with sampling methods and subsequent statistical analysis based on samples.

Some common issues for any census modality (cntd.)•Use of thresholds oIn many countries, a minimum size limit is

adopted for holdings included in the census.oThe rationale for this could be:

in the country there is a large number of very small holdings which make a marginal contribution to total agricultural production but

their inclusion in the census greatly increases the workload and census budget.

1. The classical approach• May be considered as a census conducted as a

single one-off operation in which all the census information is recorded. By extension, this approach also includes the short-long questionnaire concept.

• Should include all “essential” items and may include “additional” items depending on: a) country’s requirements; b) other data sources (e.g. non-structural items); and c) available resources.

• Can be conducted by complete enumeration, sample enumeration, or by a combination of both.

1. The classical approach (contd.)This approach is appropriate when countries:

•Wish to conduct a single one-off operation•Have an integrated census and survey programme (e.g. no need for supplementary modules)•Wish to collect some additional items at low administrative levels.

1. The classical approach: main features

• Enumeration is conducted as a single one-off operation, during a specified enumeration period, providing a snapshot of the entire population at a specified period.

• However, certain regions of a country may be enumerated at different times of the year because of seasonal and agricultural conditions.

• The classical approach also includes cases where (under the short-long questionnaire concept) the long questionnaire is completed at a second visit.

1. The classical approach: ways and steps for its implementationThe following questions arise:

1) Will complete enumeration be used in exclusivity or in combination with sample enumeration?

2) If complete enumeration is used in combination with sampling, what part of the population will be sampled? Is a reliable sample frame available?

3) Will a single questionnaire be administered to all agricultural holdings, or different questionnaires, e.g. will a short-long questionnaire concept be applied?

1. The classical approach: complete enumeration

• Exhaustive enumeration of all agricultural holdings above a threshold (if any).

• It is the most costly and challenging in terms of planning and organization. It is much less demanding in respect of the characteristics contained in the frame than a sample-based census and is often the most practical way to conduct a census and build up a statistical farm register.

1. The classical approach: sample & complete enumeration• A part of the target population is enumerated on exhaustive basis

and another part using sample. This method aims at increasing cost-efficiency but the sampled part will not provide reliable statistics at the smallest administrative level.

• Ways to combine:◦ Use complete enumeration in some regions (agriculturally important and/or

easy access) and sample enumeration in other regions;

◦ Use complete enumeration for some types of holdings (large holdings, commercial holdings or holdings above the threshold) and sample enumeration for the remaining holdings;

◦ Use of complete enumeration for key census items (such as essential and frame items) and sample enumeration to collect additional information. This is a special case of the short-long questionnaire concept.

1. The classical approach: sample enumeration

• A large sample of holdings (large enough to generate sub-national data) is selected and enumerated in one-off operation.

• It is less costly in terms of field work and reduces the respondent burden in comparison with complete enumeration.

• However, a reliable sampling frame with adequate auxiliary information (e.g. area of holding, number of livestock) is required, as well as high-level expertise in survey organization and sampling.

• The probability sample of agricultural holdings for sample enumeration can be drawn from the sampling frame built-up based on a recent population and housing census, a statistical farm register and/or other statistical and administrative sources.

1. The classical approach: types of questionnaires

• Single questionnaire: administered to all agricultural holdings covered by the census without regard of their type. It is easy to apply in the field.

• Short-long questionnaire: In many cases (mainly when an updated census frame is not available) the classical approach involves the short-long questionnaire modality:

Short questionnaire administered to screen the target population and collects basic information on all households and identifies holdings meeting a given threshold;

Long questionnaire administered only to holdings identified above the threshold (or to a sample of such holdings) to collect more detailed information from the holdings.

• Other types of questionnaires: specific census questionnaires to fit different segments of the target population (such as household and non-household based holdings). Or for different provinces when these differ considerably in cropping and livestock systems, and in agricultural practices.

1. The classical approach: Data collection from holdings in the household

sector and in the non-household sector• Two types of agricultural holdings:

- In the household sector - in the non-household sector.

• Special holdings such as large commercial holdings, usually are in the non-household sector and are “self-enumerated” or interviewed face-to-face.

• The enumeration period for special holdings should be similar to that established for the other holdings. When self-enumeration methods are used, census questionnaires should be sent well in advance to allow timely provision of data.

• Household-based holdings, in developing countries are commonly enumerated using face-to-face interviews.

1. The classical approach: advantages

• Provides a snapshot of the entire target population at a specified period and comprehensive data sets are available at the lowest geographical level.

• Data can be produced at lowest administrative and geographical levels with no sampling error. Tabulations can be done in line with high user’s requirements, including data for small administrative units and information on rare events, such as emerging crops, rare crops and types of livestock.

• When taken with complete enumeration it is much less demanding in respect of the characteristics contained in the frame than the sample-based census.

• The classical census taken by complete enumeration can constitute a good basis for building up a statistical farm register and an exhaustive sampling frame for subsequent regular agricultural surveys.

1. The classical approach: disadvantages

• Cost and administrative complexity (mainly if it is taken by complete enumeration);

• It implies a high burden on respondents;• There is the risk to overburden the census questionnaire

because of the high pressure from some policy makers or other stakeholders to include detailed items to collect data at the national level and at the lowest administrative level;

• Very large number of enumerators and supervisors required (complete enumeration);

• The amount of data to be processed is larger.

1. The classical approach: requirements

• Good organization capacity and planning. • Sufficient and timely budget allocation during census

preparation, field operation, data processing & dissemination needs to be ensured.

• Availability of sufficient number of qualified field staff.• Involvement of all relevant public authorities, in particular at

local level, is essential for successful field operations (enumeration, publicity campaign).

• If the classical census is conducted on sample basis, additional requirements are:Availability of a good survey organization capacity of the

census agency, including adequate sampling expertise.Availability of a reliable sampling frame.

2. Modular census: main features

• This modality has a clearly distinguishable core module (on a complete enumeration basis) and one or more supplementary modules (on a sample basis).

• An essential condition: data from the core module used as frame for the supplementary module(s). The census using the short-long questionnaire in one operation is not considered as modular census (no frame use).

• A ‘module’ is defined as a group of data items to be collected on a specific target population (e.g. holdings with livestock).

• All essential items should be covered by the core and supplementary module(s).

2. Modular census: main features (contd.)

• Core module must include the items required at the lowest geographic or administrative levels, and/or needed to establish sampling frames for the supplementary module(s).

• The core module should include all frame items. This module should also cover rare events (unusual crops or livestock), which would not be possible to estimate from supplementary modules conducted on sample basis because of high sampling errors.

• Supplementary modules use the frame generated by the core module to target specific populations and should include the rest of the agreed census items that are not included in the core module.

2. Modular census modality: ways and steps for implementation

• Two ways of implementing the modular approach:i. implementing core and supplementary modules

separately ii. implementing the core module and the supplementary

module(s) as part of a single data collection operation (difficult in practice).

• Sources of frame data for supplementary modules:a) The census core module;b) An agricultural module/section of the population census;c) Administrative registers.

2 a). Core module with complete enumeration as frame for supplementary

module(s)(i) Implementing core and supplementary modules separately. It implies two

phases: Phase 1: the core module is first implemented and questionnaires are returned to the office for

processing and building frame (s) for the supplementary module(s); Phase 2: enumerators return to the field to carry out the census supplementary module(s) on the

selected sample (s) of holdings for the module(s)

(ii) Implementing the core module and the supplementary module(s) as part of a single data collection operation. It implies:

Collect data for the core census module; Apply specific sampling procedures, based on responses to the core module questions, to

determine holdings to include in the supplementary module(s); If the holding is included in the sample for the supplementary module(s), proceed to apply the

supplementary module(s). Otherwise, the interview is finished.

2 b). Modular census: Agricultural data from a recent population census as frame for supplementary modules

When an agricultural module/section is included in the population census, two possible situations arise:

Only few agricultural items were included in the population census, not enough to provide frame items needed for all supplementary modules. In this case, a lighter core module is needed to collect missing frame items and any other item suitable for the core.

Most of the frame items have been collected in the agricultural module/section of the population census. Therefore, the country may use this information to implement the supplementary modules.

2 c). Modular census : Administrative sources as frame

data for supplementary modules • In countries where administrative data is well

organised and of good quality data may be available to provide a large proportion of all essential data items, including frame data for supplementary modules.

• This information can be therefore used to implement one or more supplementary modules to collect the rest of the essential data or specific data of interest to the country.

2. Modular census: special holdings

• In the modular census, special holdings (large commercial farms, holdings in the non-household sector, etc.) may be covered during the first or second phase field operation (supplementary modules).

• All required information (core and supplementary) should be collected in one operation only by dedicated staff using a specific questionnaire for such holdings. The timing will depend on the availability of dedicated staff for collecting the data.

• Efforts should be made to cover these special holdings as closely as possible to the implementation of the core module in the household sector to ensure that the same reference period is used for all items collected.

2. Modular census modality: advantages

• The combination of core and supplementary items allows the modular census to produce a more extensive and country-specific range of data compared with the classical census modality, for which small area estimates are not important.

• More effective use of available budget to collect country relevant information.

• Allows a focused and more detailed training of field personnel.

• Countries with a not well established system of agricultural surveys and limited budget may find the modular approach as a logical first step towards the creation of a system of integrated agricultural censuses and surveys.

2. Modular census modality: disadvantages

• Risk of having a core module with too many items (due to pressure from stakeholders) at low geographical level.

• The lack of well trained professional staff in sampling.• If supplem. modules are undertaken at the same time as the core module there exists the

risk of loss of data quality if not properly organized.• There are limitations in terms of cross-tabulation between variables in the core and in the

supplementary modules or between variables in different supplementary modules not conducted jointly.

• If the time lag between the implementation of the core and supplem. modules is too long, the benefit of having a good frame from the core module disappears. An frame update would be needed adding to the cost.

• If the core module is largely covered in a population census it could be difficult to mobilize additional funds for supplementary modules.

• In the absence of a rigorous programming, the conducting of the core module and publication of results can jeopardize a better preparation of complementary and thematic modules.

2. Modular census modality: requirements

• Good planning and survey organization capacity, including minimum sampling expertise.

• Adequate budget allocation between core and supplementary modules

• Capacity and resources to conduct core module and supplementary modules with a short time lag

• Availability of field staff with minimum level of qualification that can be mobilized to conduct sometimes complex surveys for supplementary modules

• A good cooperation and coordination of census activities between interested institutions and good partnership in the organization of a comprehensive census publicity communication/public awareness campaign.

3. Integrated Census/survey modality

• This new modality features a census core module (to be conducted on a complete enumeration basis) and a number of several rotating thematic modules (to be conducted annually or periodically on sample basis over a 10-year period). An example of rotating modules is the new Agricultural Integrated Survey programme (AGRIS).

• The recommended data items to be covered in this census modality are the same as all other modalities (essential, frame and additional items).

• The census core module should mainly provide frame data needed to implement rotating thematic modules.

3. What is AGRIS?• The AGRIS is a modular survey program which is to be

articulated with the agricultural census programme and conducted on an annual basis between two censuses.

• It consists of one annual core module (crop and livestock production) and four rotating modules: ‘economy’, ‘labour force’, ‘machinery and equipment’, and ‘production methods and environment’. Additional modules can be added as needed.

• In the integrated census and survey modality, AGRIS is synchronized with the agricultural census core module and operates over a 10-year cycle.

Example of possible modules and timing of their implementation (illustration)

POSSIBLE MODULESYEARS

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Agricultural census core module (and AGRIS core module where relevant and possible) •

AGRIS Core ModuleCrop production • • • • • • • • •

Livestock production • • • • • • • • •

AGRIS Rot. Module 1 Economy • • • •

AGRIS Rot. Module 2 Labour force • • •

AGRIS Rot. Module 3 Machinery and equipment • •

AGRIS Rot. Module 4Production methods and environment • • •

3. Integrated Census/survey modality: illustration

denotes optional implementation in year 1

3. Integrated Census/survey modality: ways and steps for the implementation

• The implementation of the integrated census/survey modality will start with a census core module (on a complete enumeration).

• As with other modalities, there could be three sources of frame data for the rotating thematic module(s):

a) census core module (on complete enumeration)b) An agricultural module/section in the population

censusc) Administrative registers

3 a). Integrated census/survey modality: census core module as frame for rotating

thematic module(s)• The census core module and the rotating thematic modules will be conducted as follow:

• During the first year the census core module is implemented through complete enumeration. The frame data collected is processed and analyzed to build required frames for the subsequent rotating thematic modules and AGRIS core module.

• The frame is used to design the surveys that will be implemented in the following years to collect data for the rotating thematic modules and AGRIS core module until the next complete enumeration exercise.

• From year 2, AGRIS core will be implemented annually while each rotating thematic module will be implemented every 2 or 3 years. Therefore, each year there will be a survey covering AGRIS core and one or more rotating thematic modules. Annual surveys will therefore be a combination of farm structure data and current production data providing continuous flow of data and allowing more frequent update of some structural information.

3 b) and c). Integrated census/survey modality: population census and admin sources as frame for rotating thematic modules and AGRIS core

• Similar to earlier modalities.

3. Integrated census/survey modality: advantages

• Effective use of available budget to collect country relevant information on an annual basis

• More detailed information available on topics of interest

• Focused training of field staff• Wider set of census items• Decisive step towards the establishment of a

system of integrated censuses and surveys

3. Integrated census/survey modality: limitations

• The risk of expanding too much the census core module resulting in high cost which will reduce the relative benefits of this census modality.

• The challenge of conducting the census core module and AGRIS core at the same time (when relevant). This requires good survey planning and sampling capacity.

• The limitations in terms of cross-tabulation between variables in the core and in the rotating thematic modules or between variables in different rotating thematic modules not conducted jointly.

• Difference in the reference period for different census items collected in the census core and the items in the rotating thematic modules.

3. Integrated census/survey modality: requirements

• The need for maintaining and updating the sampling frame is critical as the frame becomes gradually obsolete over time.

• A mechanism should be put in place to ensure its validity.• It requires well trained personnel in sampling methods, an

additional cost.• It requires a continuous flow of resources. In countries

where funding is mainly from external sources, there may be budgetary and other administrative constraints for commitments over such a long period as 10 years.

4. Combined agriculture census with use of administrative sources: main

features• A meaningful part of the census items for the

entire population of the census of agriculture (or for part of it) comes from existing administrative sources created for non-statistical purposes.

• The data could come from one or several administrative sources. It could be also used in combination with field data collection.

4. Combined agriculture census with use of admin sources: main features

(contd.)• An important feature of the data from administrative sources is that

the information is not primarily collected for statistical purposes. • Administrative sources may be for selective items or may target a

specific population.• Thus the definition of the population of interest and the data collection

protocols is out of the control of the census office.• There is a substantial difference in the organisational approach of the

census when using administrative data as compared to other approaches.

• As the objects already exist in the data source, a selection need to be made of objects (holders or holdings) and variables that are relevant to the census.

4. Combined agriculture census with use of admin sources: Quality considerations• Some information in administrative sources could be of low importance for administrative

purposes which may result in lower statistical quality. • The purpose and method used to collect data should also be taken into account to detect possible

systematic errors or systematic bias in the register• The following quality aspects need to be carefully considered:

Relevance (content) of the administrative data sources. Accuracy: an admin source is of good quality if a large proportion of the variables required

for the census exists in the register and corresponding data are reliable. One important accuracy category is related to the data coverage: under-coverage or over-

coverage of units, multiple listings, and misclassification of items. Completeness Unreported events: data related to the reference period is not available in the source referring

to an event from which parameters are to be derived: e.g. births, deaths or loss, sales, etc. of livestock.

• The information from administrative sources has to be coherent and comparable with data from other sources or over time.

• The timeliness dimension (difference between the reference period and the availability of the results) when using administrative data source.

• Accessibility in terms of physical access to the information in the admin source.

4. Combined agriculture census with use of admin sources: Ways of

using admin data in this modality1. The starting point (like in all census modalities) is to define the data content of the census in terms

of data items to be covered.

2. Next step is to decide on the way to use the admin source. Possible ways or approaches are: Split data approach: admin sources are used to provide some of the variables for all of the

holdings. Split population approach: Data from admin sources are used for some holdings where these

data are of sufficient quality, and other statistical sources are used for the remainder of the holdings.

Combining the two approaches: administrative sources replace the field data collection for some of the variables for part of the holdings.

Pre-filling answers in the questionnaires which are to be checked by respondents during the census.

Totally replacing the census data collection, on all census characteristics and for all units in the census population with data coming from one or more admin sources (no very common).

4. Combined agriculture census with use of admin sources: Steps for

implementation 1. Assess the usability of the source/register;2. Detailed analysis of the quality of the administrative source in terms

of: Legal basis: Analize the kind of legislation needed to allow access to,

transfer and use of administrative data at unit level for statistical purposes.

Consultations between owner and user organizations to understand the opportunities and difficulties: Which definitions were used? What is the scope? What is the coverage; Which are the reference periods; What are the identifiers used? etc.

Public support: It is important to make clear the differences between statistical and non-statistical utilization of administrative data files both in professional and public groups of society.

4. Combined agriculture census with use of administrative sources:

Steps for implementation (contd.) Design a government-wide project well in advance as a good

organisational way to outline responsibilities and the necessary work: Make an inventory of all available admin data sources including the

evaluation of its content in terms of usability and quality. Develop the content and the conceptual framework for the utilization of

administrative records for the census. Decide what items are to be produced from what kind of data sources. Determine step by step how the data sets are to be prepared for

interconnection / linking.

Develop the synchronization relations of information systems and the commonly accepted data management and data security regulations.

Plan the budget for the particular preparatory work related to the use of administrative sources for the agricultural census

4. Combined agriculture census with use of administrative sources:

AdvantagesReduction of cost of census data production;Reduction of the burden on respondents;By combining the data collected in the field with the data from administrative sources, new derived variables can be created;It allows compilation and publication more frequently and faster;Non-response rate can be either significantly reduced or eliminated (when data on the entire target census population is included in the administrative sources);It could significantly improve the quality of the source and leads to a substantial harmonization of certain information between different institutions. As a result of more efficient and faster operation the public perception of statistics may become more favourable.

4. Combined agriculture census with use of administrative sources:

disadvantagesLinkage of data sets can be difficult (or impossible) if legal background is unclear;It could be very difficult to establish a good cooperation with register owners;The cost for the access to the admin data could be too high.When there is different population coverage, admin sources can be used for pre-filling the questionnaires only on common population while other units need to be enumerated;Incoherence of concepts, definitions, classification and reference periods could hamper the use of admin sources;Problems related to linking data from various data sources;Problems on quality or risks concerning stability may arise due to political changes;Timeliness and punctuality;If an admin source is abolished, it is difficult to provide comparable statistical data series;Substantive or technical changes in the admin sources may not be detected immediately;Comparability over time is strongly influenced by the change in the level of coverage in the different years and can give misleading results.

4. Combined agriculture census with use of admin sources:

requirementsAvailability of relevant Registers and Administrative database/s with good quality data at individual holding level, clear and harmonised definitions and appropriate frequency for data updateAvailability of sufficient competent experts with good IT infrastructure knowledge and database management skills at the initial stage of the census preparation.Existence of an Agreement established between the census office (user) and administrative body (owner) defining methodological and technical details about the access and use of admin sources.Public appreciation of the benefits of using register sources for statistical purposes.Availability of a good legal basis and governance infrastructure, involvement of public authorities and administrative sources owners, and an established system for data control.Good IT infrastructure;Unified identification system through all data sources.

Country examplesUruguay National Agricultural Census 2011: Classical approach, complete enumeration, one-off operation

•The total agricultural area of the country (163,572 km2 out of a total country surface of 176,000 km2) was divided in 637 enumeration sectors that were canvassed during 4 months taken information from 44,781 agricultural holdings of 1 ha and over of total area.•An unique census questionnaire was used containing 12 sections and more than 250 questions.

Country examples Gambia 2011-2012 Census of agriculture: sampled-based census.

•The 2011/2012 Census of Agriculture was a sample survey of approximately 15% of rural households in the 2003 Census of Population. •The sampling design was a stratified two-stage design with districts forming the strata and the first-stage units being the EAs. First stage units were selected systematically in proportion to the 2003 total number of households. The second-stage sampling units were the holders (of agricultural holdings) within EAs from which a systematic random sample of five (5) holders was selected for enumeration.•The enumeration period spanned for 7 months.•Seven structured questionnaire forms were used (listing, demographic, area measurement-GPS, harvest, community, groundnut, mango).

Country examplesBangladesh Census of Agriculture 2008: Modular approach.The census was taken in two phases:

• First phase (11-25 May 2008) for the core module (complete enumeration);• Second phase (15 Nov - 4 Dec 2008) for the supplementary modules (on

sample basis).

The core module covered all households managing more than 0.05 acres of land. It comprised all recommended items for the core module in the WCA 2010 Programme.Six supplementary modules were undertaken by means of a long questionnaire applied to a sample of holdings identified during the core module and classified in “small”, “medium” and “large” holdings. The supplementary modules were:

equipment and farming system; agriculture employment; irrigated area under crops; stock of livestock and poultry; agriculture credit; agriculture implements.

Country examplesNetherland Agricultural Census 2010: Combined agricultural census with use of administrative registers.

•The agricultural census frame for the AC 2010 was the administrative farm register (AFR) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation. Farmers have to register by law. The AFR contains names, addresses and other characteristics of holders or holdings and a unique registration number. •The agricultural census applies a higher threshold than the AFR, thus only agricultural holdings above the threshold are taken into account. •This threshold is applied to separate professional from hobby farmers, and to minimize processing burden. •Information on the census items existing in the AFR is taken directly from the register for the whole census population.

MANY THANKS

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