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Agricultural-Census

Ghana Census of Agriculture 2017/2018

Ghana, 2018
Reference ID
GHA_2017_2018_CA_v01_M_v01_A_ESS
Producer(s)
Ghana Statistical Service, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Statistics Research and Information Directorate
Collections
Agricultural Censuses
Metadata
Documentation in PDF DDI/XML JSON
Created on
Mar 31, 2026
Last modified
Apr 02, 2026
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67
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  • Identification
  • Scope
  • Coverage
  • Producers and sponsors
  • Sampling
  • Survey instrument
  • Data collection
  • Data processing
  • Data Access
  • Contacts
  • Metadata production

    • Identification

    Survey ID number

    GHA_2017_2018_CA_v01_M_v01_A_ESS
    Title

    Ghana Census of Agriculture 2017/2018
    Country
    Name Country code
    Ghana GHA
    Study type

    Agricultural Census [ag/census]
    Series Information

    The first Ghana Census of Agriculture was carried out in 1950, followed by the censuses conducted in 1964, 1970 and 1984. The Ghana Census of Agriculture 2017/2018 is the fifth agricultural census conducted in the country and the first to include agricultural institutions (holders that are juridical persons).
    Abstract

    The Ghana Census of Agriculture 2017/2018 provides benchmark data for planning and monitoring the national development agenda-the Coordinated Programme of Economic and Social Development Policies 2017-2024 and the Medium-Term National Development Policy Framework 2018-2021. The census will help policymakers set targets to assess progress towards the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union Agenda 2063. Additionally, census data will enhance the understanding of the effectiveness of the various agricultural interventions and other national policy initiatives.
    Kind of Data

    Census/enumeration data [cen]
    Unit of Analysis

    Agricultural holdings

    Scope

    Notes

    The census scope covered agricultural activities (crops and livestock production) of the holding, as well as forestry and aquaculture practices, and fish capturing. The census also covered non-traditional agriculture production such as mushroom and beekeeping etc.

    The core module household questionnaire collected information on:

    1. Socio-economic characteristics of household members
    2. Holder information
    3. Types of arable crops on field (plot)
    4. Livestock
    5. Aquaculture
    6. Forestry
    7. Capture fisheries (marine & inland fishing)
    8. Types of tree crops on field (plot)
    9. Bee keeping

    The core module institutional / commercial questionnaire collected information on:

    1. General characteristics
    2. Organisational information
    3. Types of crops on plot
    4. Livestock
    5. Aquaculture
    6. Forestry
    7. Capture fisheries (marine & inland fishing)
    8. Types of tree crops on field (plot)
    9. Bee keeping

    The community questionnaire collected information on:

    1. Identification
    2. List of community/locality focus group members
    3. socio-economic conditions
    4. Agro-ecological, topographical, soil types and natural disasters
    5. Basic infrastructure
    6. School infrastructure and training centers
    7. Health facilities
    8. Social facilities
    9. Socio-economic infrastructure
    10. Existence of media/communication networks
    11. Natural resources of the community
    12. Socio-economic associations/organisations
    13. Key challenges to agricultural production and marketing
    14. Units of measurement
    Keywords
    Structure of Agriculture Land use Crops Livestock and Poultry Forestry Aquaculture

    Coverage

    Geographic Coverage

    The Ghana Census of Agriculture 2017/2018 covered the entire country.
    Universe

    The statistical units for the Ghana Census of Agriculture 2017/2018 were agricultural households and institutions (juridical persons) engaged in agriculture. An agricultural household is defined as a household with at least one of its members engaged in agricultural activity. An agricultural institution (juridical person) is defined as a non-household entity engaged in commercial or non-commercial agricultural activities.

    Producers and sponsors

    Primary investigators
    Name
    Ghana Statistical Service
    Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Statistics Research and Information Directorate
    Producers
    Name Role
    Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Technical and financial support
    World Bank Group Technical and financial support
    Government of the Netherlands Technical and financial support
    Department for International Development of the United Kingdom Technical and financial support
    Monitoring, Evaluation and Technical Support Services of USAID Logistical support

    Sampling

    Sampling Procedure

    The census frame of the Ghana Census of Agriculture 2017/2018 was made of the enumeration areas (EAs) identified for the Population and Housing Census 2010. All households and institutions engaged in agriculture were identified and enumerated. A listing exercise was conducted prior to the enumeration of agricultural holdings to identify all households and institutions engaged in agriculture. The census was a complete enumeration of all agricultural households and institutions from the frame.

    Survey instrument

    Questionnaires

    The Ghana Census of Agriculture 2017/2018 used four types of questionnaires for the core and community modules:

    • listing questionnaire, used for listing all structures, households, and institutions in the country
    • core module household questionnaire
    • core module institutional questionnaire
    • community module questionnaire

    The questionnaires covered 19 out of the 23 essential items recommended in the WCA 2020.

    Data collection

    Dates of Data Collection
    Start End
    2018-04 2018-12
    Time Method

    Reference day: the day of the interview, for items such as structure of agricultural activities of a holder including holding location, purpose of production, etc.

    Reference period: the cropping season from 1 March 2017 to 28 February 2018, for structure of agriculture and benchmark data on crops, livestock flows and production, aquaculture, and tree planting.
    Mode of data collection
    • Computer Assisted Personal Interview [capi]
    Data Collection Notes

    After the district level training, 4914 field officers were selected. The selected field officers were divided into 819 field teams constituting of five enumerators and one supervisor each, and they were deployed to the field.

    The Ghana Census of Agriculture 2017/2018 used an electronic questionnaire where interviews with CAPI were used in the collection of data on households and institutions engaged in agricultural activities.

    The data collection was conducted in two phases:

    • Phase 1 involved the listing of all structures to identify all agricultural households and institutions engaged in agriculture
    • Phase 2 consisted of the administration of the core and community modules, as well as of the collection of data on the characteristics of holders and holdings of individuals and institutions, and their agricultural activities. The community level information was collected through a focus group discussion using a structured pre-coded community questionnaire.

    QUALITY ASSURANCE
    All the questionnaires were pre-tested and piloted during the development process to assess the suitability of the questions and instructions, the adequacy and completeness of the questions, the respondents' understanding of the questions, and the procedures and methods of the field work.

    Appropriate procedures and controls were put in place during the data collection to ensure that data from the census were of high quality. The National Census Secretariat, under the authority of the Ghana Statistical Service and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, constituted five groups of field monitors:

    • Steering Committee
    • Technical Committee
    • Data Processing/Information Technology team
    • Regional Management Committees
    • Independent monitors

    The monitoring was accomplished using well-structured monitoring guidelines developed by the National Census Secretariat. Each monitoring group visited areas assigned to them to ensure that:

    • all EAs were covered
    • the publicity campaign was effective
    • field logistics were adequate
    • tablets were functioning
    • data collection applications were updated regularly
    • supervisors were on the field with their enumerators and performing their assigned roles

    Data processing

    Data Editing

    The Census and Survey Processing (CSPro) System software was used for data processing.

    Data Access

    Access conditions

    For data access and use information please contact the Ghana Statistical Service.
    Email: [email protected]
    Website: https://statsghana.gov.gh/

    Contacts

    Contacts
    Name Email URL
    Ghana Statistical Service [email protected] https://statsghana.gov.gh/

    Metadata production

    DDI Document ID

    DDI_GHA_2017_2018_CA_v01_M_v01_A_ESS_FAO
    Producers
    Name Abbreviation Affiliation Role
    Ghana Statistical Service Metadata producer
    Statistics Division ESS Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Metadata adapted for FAM
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