A Presentation on Need for Improvement of Agricultural Statistics

1. APresentationonNeed for Improvement of Agricultural Statistics By Vijay Kumar, Adviser Directorate of Economics and Statistics Department of Agriculture & Cooperation Ministry of Agriculture New Delhi

2. I. Estimates of Area and Production of Major Crops Crops Covered Rice, Wheat, Coarse Cereals, Pulses, Oilseeds, Sugarcane, Cotton, Jute & Mesta Time Schedule for release of Estimates 1st Advance Estimates : September/October 2nd Advance Estimates: December/January 3rd Advance Estimates : March/April 4th Advance Estimates : June/July Final Estimates : December/January of next year

3. Agencies Involved • State Departments of Economics & Statistics/ Agriculture/Land Records who supply area and production estimates • Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Government of India validates data sent by States and compiles all-India estimates Supplementary Information Used Rainfall, Temperature, Inputs Data, Historical Data, Estimates prepared by other agencies

4. Field Supervision State Government and NSSO officers check area estimates and yield estimates based on crop cutting experiments in the field on sample basis

5. Problems • Large variations in area coverage reported for the same period, by different agencies of States. For example, two Departments in MP reported area estimates of 42.41 lakh hectares and 36.98 lakh hectares under wheat during January 2007 • Large variations in area and production estimates reported over time. For example, UP Government revised wheat production estimates from 286 lakh tonnes to 225 lakh tonnes during 2004-05 from 2nd estimate to 4th estimate • Non-response, delayed response and large variations without any explanatory notes.

6. II. Agricultural Census Information Collected Number and size of operational holdings, area operated, tenancy and land use particulars, irrigation sources, use of inputs. Agencies Involved • State Departments of Revenue/ Agriculture/ Planning/ Economics & Statistics conduct census operations • Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, GOI coordinates work at the all-India level and brings out reports.

7. Problems • Low priority given by State Authorities to this work • Low rates of honorarium to field level functionaries leading to lack of interest by field officials • Patwaris in the States are entrusted with lot of revenue and other works like drought, flood, elections etc. in addition to their own duties. This causes delay in Agricultural Census work. • Lack of computerisation of land records • Absence of legislation for conducting census operations like population census

8. III. Horticulture Data Crops Covered Fruits, Vegetables, Flowers, Spices, Plantations, Nuts, Mushroom, Honey Agencies Involved • State Departments of Horticulture/Agriculture • National Horticulture Board, Arecanut and Spices Board, Department of Agriculture & Cooperation of GOI

9. Problems • Incomplete coverage • Frequent data revision • Variation in data from different sources • No mechanism to check data inconsistencies • Delay in collection and release of data • Absence of sound methodology

10. IV. Suggestions for Improvement • Due priority to agriculture statistics needed for sound policy decisions • A mechanism needed at State level for validating State level data after due coordination with agencies concerned and using supplementary information • Computerisation of data processing and data dispatch needed for reducing delays and errors • Data need be collected timely and as per prescribed methodology for maintaining credibility

11. Thank You !!!