Renewable Natural Resources Census, 2009
Bhutan, 2009
Identification
BTN_2009_RNR_v01_EN_M_v01_A_OCS
Renewable Natural Resources Census, 2009
| Name | Country code |
|---|---|
| Bhutan | BTN |
Agricultural Census [ag/census]
The Renewable Natural Resources (RNR) Census 2009, to which the metadata review and data presented here refer, is the second census of its kind to be conducted in the Kingdom of Bhutan, after the RNR Census 2000.
The Ministry of Agriculture will be conducting its nationwide second Renewable Natural Resources (RNR) Census in 2009 for the production year 2008. The first census was conducted for the production year 2000 in 2001 which has provided baseline indicators for preparation of the first ever decentralized geog (sub-district) based 9th Five Year Plan and been serving as the baseline data bank for the RNR sector until now. Although, the initial plan was to carry out the RNR census after every 5 years, it could not be done due to limited financial and human resources capacity.
The main objectives of this census are as follows:
• Provide basis for development and improving the ongoing agricultural statistical information system in the country.
• Provide updated and reliable statistical information on RNR activities at national, dzongkhags and geogs level for efficient monitoring, planning and policy making.
• Enable an efficient study of small holdings communities (which is the case in Bhutan) to facilitate government plans and programs to assist small farmers effectively.
• Provide baseline data for monitoring of millennium development goals (MDGs) particularly poverty and food security situations and
• Facilitate the ongoing Royal Government’s effort to streamline information sharing, monitoring and evaluation of planned development activities through the planning & monitoring system (PLAMS) initiated by the Gross National Happiness Commission (GHNC).
Census/enumeration data [cen]
Households
Scope
The scope of the RNR census 2009 covered agriculture (including forestry), livestock, income and food security.
| Topic | Vocabulary |
|---|---|
| Community Driven Development | FAO |
| Infrastructure | FAO |
| Access to Finance | FAO |
| Agriculture & Rural Development | FAO |
| Food (production, crisis) | FAO |
| Livestock | FAO |
| Forests & Forestry | FAO |
Coverage
National coverage
The statistical unit was the farm household, defined as a person or group of persons operating as one economic unit and engaged in agricultural production.
Producers and sponsors
| Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Policy & Planning Division (PPD) | Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) |
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture | Technical assistance |
| Department of Livestock | Technical assistance |
| Department of Forests and Park Services | Technical assistance |
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Danish Agency for International Development | Funding |
| Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation | Funding |
| International Food Policy Research Institute | Funding |
| Royal Government of Bhutan | Funding |
Sampling
The RNR Census 2009 aimed for complete enumeration of all households in the country engaged in RNR activities and production. However, of the 61,578 households listed as having engaged in the RNR activities only 57,412 households could be captured and 4,166 (6.77 percent) households turned out to be absentees. The absentees were those households whom the enumerators either failed to established contact with or found nobody representing them for enumeration even after three visits. The reasons for the absentees were to do with people on migration, involved in distant located offfarm activities, and away on pilgrimage and business. The census frame was built on the basis of the list of households provided by the Geog (subdistricts) RNR Extension Centers (structures of the MoAF).
93.23 percent
Survey instrument
Data were collected using one single questionnaire collecting:
• Accessibilities of rural communities to motor roads, markets and extension facilities / services
• Main sources of income
• Availability of serviceable farm machineries and tools
• Agricultural land holdings and tenure
• Crop (cereals and horticulture) productions, sold and cash earned
• Organic and chemical fertilizers, and plant protection chemicals used
• Livestock population and productions
• Livestock productions and live animals sold, and cash earned
• Death of animals and common causes of deaths
• Livestock feed and fodder
• Forest products collected, forest byproducts produced, sold and cash earned
• Issues related to forest resources, rules and acts
• Farming constraints
• Households' food security
The RNR 2009 census questionnaire covered 12 of the 16 core items2 recommended for the WCA 2010 round. The following four items were not covered:
(i) "Legal status of agricultural holder"
(ii) "Household size"
(iii) "Presence of aquaculture on the holding"
(iv) "Other economic production activities of the holding's enterprise".
Data collection
| Start | End |
|---|---|
| 2009-01 | 2009-08 |
From January to December 2008, for utilization of land, land tenure, irrigation, use of fertilizers, agriculture machinery and equipment, labour, main source of income, forestry, etc.
- Face-to-face [f2f]
Data collection was done by means of face-to-face interviews using paper forms, that is, the PAPI method. The enumerators visited the households; however, in a few cases, because of the scattered nature of settlements and the distances between them, the respondents (farmers) had to be gathered at appropriate locations to be interviewed.
Data processing
Data Processing
The database was designed in MS Access Software and data entry was done in 20 computers by 20 temporary recruits, meaning the database was replicated into 20 files. After completion of the data entry, the contents of these 20 files have been merged to form a single file through establishment of union queries followed by once again validation wherever necessary and synchronization of data. Transformation of some variables (from codes to names, names to codes and check and tick boxes to absolute numbers) was required depending on the type and purpose of the data. The entire data organization and processing was performed through establishing queries in the MS Access program. Some analyses were also done in the same program but for major and in-depth analytical and graphical presentation purposes the dataset generated by the Access queries were exported to MS Excel program.
Data appraisal
The data validation was scrutinized at three key stages, to decrease errors: (i) at questionnaire design;3 (ii) at field data collection;4 and (iii) at data computation.
The RNR 2009 census results were disseminated by means of printed reports, which were distributed to all relevant departments and agencies of the Royal Government of Bhutan. The final census reports, published in two volumes, included extensive methodological explanations. The PDF version of the RNR 2009 census report is available on the institution's website.
Data Access
| Is signing of a confidentiality declaration required? | Confidentiality declaration text |
|---|---|
| yes | See http://www.moaf.gov.bt/legal-disclaimer/ |
CONTACT:
Policy and Planning Division,
Ministry of Agriculture and Forests
Address: Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Thimphu, Bhutan
Telephone: (+975) 02 323745 / 323746 / 323747 / 323749
Disclaimer and copyrights
The user of the data acknowledges that the original collector of the data, the authorized distributor of the data, and the relevant funding agency bear no responsibility for use of the data or for interpretations or inferences based upon such uses
Contacts
| Name | URL | |
|---|---|---|
| Ministry of Agriculture and Forests | [email protected] | http://www.moaf.gov.bt |
Metadata production
DDI_BTN_2009_RNR_v01_EN_M_v01_A_OCS_FAO
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Chief Statistician | Food and Agriculture Organization | Adoption of metadata for FAM |
| Census team, Statistics Division | Food and Agriculture Organization | Metadata producer |
Metadata version
BTN_2009_RNR_v01_EN_M_v01_A_OCS_v01