Agricultural Census 2011

The agricultural sector requires reliable and timely information on the activity carried out and changes that have occurred. Regular users of such information include national government agencies, governmental departments (for the formulation of policies and the preparation, monitoring and evaluation of developmental plans and projects), research and teaching institutions, associations of agricultural producers and own producers.

Thus, data provided by an agricultural census will be vital to know the agricultural reality and conditions of a country at a given time, and allow for comparison with previous censuses to examine changes. Undoubtedly, censuses describe a situation but do not explain them. In that sense, a census provides an adequate framework for conducting agricultural surveys which can provide needed explanations. Eleven years after the last agricultural census, it has become necessary to update information on the fundamental characteristics of the agricultural sector, which represents around 10% of the Gross Domestic Product of the country. This was the basis for conducting the 2011 Agricultural Census.

The 2011 Agricultural Census had the following objectives:

1. Provide basic data on the structure of the agricultural sector for the country as a whole, for each department and for small rural areas.
2. Update the sampling frames for the design of specialized agricultural surveys, both continuous and occasional.
3. Provide a base that helps to extend and improve the production of agricultural statistics, with a view to consolidating an Integrated Agricultural Statistical System.