Agricultural Module in the Population Census 2019
Belarus, 2019
Identification
BLR_2019_AMPC_v01_M_v01_A_ESS
Agricultural Module in the Population Census 2019
| Name | Country code |
|---|---|
| Belarus | BLR |
Agricultural Census [ag/census]
The Population Census with agriculture module of the Republic of Belarus in 2019 is the third population census since the country gained independence in 1991. The previous censuses were conducted in 1999 and 2009. An agricultural module was integrated for the first time in the 2019 census. The country has never conducted an independent agricultural census because agricultural organizations, peasant farms (small-scale farmers), and private farms (large holdings operated by households but registered as juridical persons), which operate most of the agricultural land in the country, are subject to regular full coverage surveys based on state statistical reporting forms.
The objective of the agricultural module of the Population Census 2019 was to obtain exhaustive information on households not covered by regular surveys.
Census/enumeration data [cen]
Agricultural holdings
Scope
The scope of the agricultural module covered only households (family holdings) engaged in crop production and livestock rearing activities on relatively small parcels around the house mostly for self-consumption.
Data was not collected for the non-household sector. However, since it accounts for most of the agricultural land in the country, it is subject to regular exhaustive recording on the basis of state statistical reporting forms. This sector is comprised of agricultural organizations, such as collective and state holdings, and private farms, also known as peasant farms, that are large holdings operated by households but registered as juridical persons. The agricultural activities of religious organizations were covered through a one-time survey.
The agricultural activity questionnaire contained six questions:
- How many land parcels (or portions of land parcels) were owned, possessed, or used by your household in 2019?
- Please describe the land parcels (or portions of land parcels), their use, and the area under agricultural crops.
- As of October 1, 2019, were there fruit and berry plantings and shrubs on your land parcels (or portions of land parcels)?
- Indicate the number (area) of fruit and berry plantings and shrubs of bearing age as of October 1, 2019.
- As of October 1, 2019, did your farm have any livestock, poultry, or bee colonies?
- Please indicate the number of livestock, poultry, and bee colonies as of October 1, 2019.
The census questionnaire collected information on:
- Number of households, their composition, and housing conditions
- Characteristics of the premises used for residence
Coverage
The Population Census 2019 covered the entire country.
The statistical unit in the Population Census 2019 was the household (family holdings only). The Law on Population Census defines a household as a group of individuals who live together in a residential area, provide themselves with everything necessary for life, run a common household, fully or partially pooling and spending their funds, or one person living independently and providing himself with everything necessary for life.
For census purposes, a distinction was made between private and collective households.
Private households comprised households living in residential premises - flats, single-family houses, garden houses (dachas), dormitories, other residential premises and non-residential premises used for habitation.
A collective household is a group of persons permanently residing in specialized social and health care institutions, barracks, detention centers and religious organizations.
Private households were the statistical unit for the Agricultural Module of the Population Census 2019. The module did not cover collective household.
Producers and sponsors
| Name |
|---|
| National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus (Belstat, Нацыянальны статыстычны камітэт Рэспублікі Беларусь) |
Sampling
For the Population Census 2019 the country was divided into enumeration areas (EAs), the smallest statistical unit in which the complete enumeration of all households, including those with agricultural activities, was conducted.
To create the sampling frame, the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus used the population register combined with the address register and resolved discrepancies between the two sources. The cartography was prepared using a geographic information system (GIS), and an electronic map was obtained indicating the boundaries of registration areas, census districts, and enumeration areas (EAs), as well as houses located within the boundaries of these areas. Registration areas were formed for each city, urban-type settlement, large rural settlement (with a population of 3000 people or more), census districts and EAs - for all settlements.
Survey instrument
Four census questionnaires and one form were used in the Population Census 2019:
- Composition of households permanently residing in the premises, characteristics of the premises used for habitation (1-dwelling questionnaire)
- Census questionnaire for persons permanently residing (staying) in the Republic of Belarus (questionnaire 2H)
- Census questionnaire for persons temporarily residing (staying) in the Republic of Belarus (questionnaire 3BH)
- Questionnaire on agricultural activities (questionnaire 1CX)
- List of persons residing (staying) in specialized institutions or organizations, of homeless persons, (1-Institution form)
The questionnaire 1CX was completed when one or more household members owned, held or used land plots or parts of land plots, or farm animals. The questionnaire covered 21 out of 23 essential items recommended in the WCA 2020. Several essential items could be tabulated/cross-tabulated with other items of different modules of the census questionnaire on demographic and social-economic characteristics of households. The remaining essential items (except for two1) were obtained from administrative registers and the regular household survey.
Data collection
| Start | End |
|---|---|
| 2019-10-04 | 2019-10-30 |
Reference day:
- 1 October 2019 for fruit and berry plantations and number of livestock
Reference period:
- Year 2019 for the availability of land plots and their area, and for area under agricultural crops (temporary crops, that is potatoes, cereals, legumes, etc.)
- Computer Assisted Personal Interview [capi]
- Computer Assisted Web Interview [cawi]
While in the previous rounds of the Population Census data was collected with pen and paper interviews (PAPI), the 2019 census employed various data collection methods: enumeration in stationary and mobile enumeration centers was conducted with computer assisted web interviews (CAWI), while enumeration at the place of residence was conducted with computer assisted personal interviews (CAPI) using tablets.
The approximate distribution of respondents enumerated through the different data collection methods was 22 percent through internet, 28 percent through CAWI, and 48 percent with CAPI. Personal data on household members who were absent from their place of residence during the census period or who were minors, in the absence of adult household members, guardians or custodians, were collected based on their information when available on administrative sources provided by government authorities or other organizations, this collection method accounted for 2 percent.
For the internet questionnaire, individuals identified themselves using a system of bank-id, or alternatively with the passport-id together with a code received by SMS. The internet questionnaire was partly prefilled with data based on the identification provided. For CAPI, enumerators received tablets with preloaded maps containing addresses and dwellings in their EAs. Some information was prefilled from the population register to reduce the interview time. Some logical controls were also introduced in the questionnaires.
QUALITY ASSURANCE
To assess the completeness and correctness of the population enumeration, after the completion of the census, control activities were carried out. Heads of enumeration areas together with enumerators conducted a control tour of the randomly selected dwellings of each enumeration area during six days (from 1 to 6 November 2019). Sampling for the control tour of premises addresses was carried out by constructing a three-stage stratified sample using a probability-based method of selecting ten percent of the addresses of the premises from the general sample. Also, the data entered was subjected to logical and arithmetical controls to avoid errors in the process of completing the census questionnaires.
Data processing
The National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus was responsible for the enumeration, coding, editing, verification and processing of all data collected during the Population Census. Data was processed using an ad-hoc software. The summary data generation program included 169 standard tables, of which 121 tables contained socio-demographic characteristics and 48 tables contained information on the agricultural activities of the population.
Data Access
For additional information on data access and use, please contact the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus.
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: https://www.belstat.gov.by/en/
Contacts
| Name | URL | |
|---|---|---|
| National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus (Belstat, Нацыянальны статыстычны камітэт Рэспублікі Беларусь) | [email protected] | https://www.belstat.gov.by/en/ |
Metadata production
DDI_BLR_2019_AMPC_v01_M_v01_A_ESS_FAO
| Name | Abbreviation | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus (Нацыянальны статыстычны камітэт Рэспублікі Беларусь) | Belstat | Metadata producer | |
| Statistics Division | ESS | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations | Metadata adapted for FAM |