Methodological Recommendations for Improving the Programme for Censuses of Agriculture in the CIS States (Materials of the CIS Statistical Committee)

The first part of the journal version of the «Methodological Recommendations for Improving the Programme for Censuses of Agriculture in the CIS States» developed by the CIS-Stat was published in the previous issue of Voprosy statistiki. This second part explores the organization and methodological questions of establishing the frame for the census of agriculture and its updatingin the intercensal period. The paper successively reviews modalities for conducting a census of agriculture and a micro census in the CIS countries. The article showcases their features and advantages thatwouldbe preferable under specific conditions and for each individual country: 1) the classical approach may be considered a census conducted as a single one-off operation in which all the census information is recorded; 2) the modular approach has clearly distinguishable core module (used during a continues survey) and supplementary module(s) (conducted on a sample basis simultaneously with a continuous survey or in 1-2 years’ time); 3) the integrated census/survey modality, involving rotating survey modules , conducted over the period of 10 years between two censuses; 4) the combined census modality, which uses administrative data.

The article summarizes (in the context of methodological recommendations) information on the following methods for recording the area of agricultural land: accounting of area of holding according to a respondent; enumeration using GPS enabled devices; measuring horizontal positions using compass and tape - «gold standard»; using satellite images or remote sensing.

Published methodological recommendations propose structuring criteria for data of agricultural censuses. However, it is emphasized that after developing the survey toolkit, processing tools for the survey results are also developed. These tools include the system of final and analytical tables, groupings and combination of items that serve as a basis for empirical indicators acquired during census to be converted into a population of aggregate values characterizing various aspects of agricultural activities.

In the final part of the document under review, there are recommendations on how to monitor census activities, verify census results, including by means of remote sensing, and recalculate time series according to results of an agricultural census.