Abstract

The Census of agriculture is defined to be a government sponsored large-scale Island-wide operation for the collection and derivation of quantitative statistical information on the structure of the agriculture, using agricultural holding as the unit of enumeration and referring to a single agricultural year.

The Census of Agriculture and Livestock is a large scale undertaking designed to

         Collect and disaggregate statistical data at lower administrative division level needed for planning, 
         Establish benchmark data on the structure in order to evaluate the progress of agricultural sector
         Prepare a frame of agricultural holdings, agricultural households etc. for the purpose of conducting 
         sample surveys during the intercensal period.

The Census of Agriculture and Livestock conducted during the period from August – October 2002 is the latest in the series of Censuses. The extent of land operated for the purpose of agricultural crops and livestock have been enumerated in this Census. Such agricultural land were grouped into two categories viz. (a) Small Holdings (b) Estate or Large holdings

There were about 3.3 million holdings in the "Small Holdings sector" out of which 1.5 million was enumerated in the category of less than 40 perches in extent. The rest 1.8 million was found to be more than 40 perches or their produce is mainly devoted for sale purposes.

Geographic coverage

National Coverage Urban and Rural Separate enumaration for Estate Sector The extent of land operated for the purpose of agricultural crops and livestock have been enumerated in this Census. Such agricultural land were grouped in to two categories viz.

                           (a) Small Holdings
                           (b) Estate or Large holdings

Analysis unit

Individuals

Note: - Operator basis Data set: In this data set the operator does the agricultural work in the same District where he resides.

Agricultural Operator, Agricultural Holding

(1) Agricultural Operator

An agricultural operator is the person responsible for operating the agricultural land and /or livestock. He/She may carry out the agricultural operations by himself/herself or with the assistance of others or simply direct day-to-day operations. Here the Operator cultivates the land and/or tends the livestock himself. or He/she may do so with the assistance of hired labour or any other persons. or He/She may simply direct operations by taking decisions only.

It is important to note that the operator need not necessarily be the owner of the land or livestock and also that mere ownership does not entitle a person to be considered as an operator. This means that a person may attend to all the work needed to cultivate a land or tend livestock, but will not be considered the operator, if there is some one else directing day to day work on the holding. It also means that a person may supervise the work in a holding appearing for all purposes to be in charge of the operations of the holding, but if there is someone else who is giving day to day directions, he/she does not become the operator.

In respect of livestock, any person who is actually responsible for the management of livestock in the same way that a land operator is responsible for his holding will be considered as the operator. The livestock may be owned, obtained on "Ande" or lease or any other form of arrangement. While most livestock operators will also be land operators, there would be cases of livestock operators who are not land operators and therefore they may have no land holding. The term agricultural operator includes both land operator as well as purely livestock or poultry operator. While most of the operators have only one holding, there could be cases of an operator having more than one holding.

(2) Agricultural Holding An agricultural holding consists of all land and/or livestock used wholly or partly for agricultural production and is operated under one operational status and situated within one Divisional Secretariat. (D.S.) Division subject to the following conditions:

                One holding may consist of one or more parcels.
                Does not matter whether operator owns the land or not.
                Does not matter whether the land is operated legally or not.
                Holding may consist only crops, only livestock or crops and livestock.
                Does not matter whether the land is very marginal or big in size.
                Holding may consist only paddy, only highlands or paddy and highlands.

However, should any land is situated outside the D.S.division where the operator is resided, it could be considered as a separate agricultural holding taking into account of above conditions.

Universe

There were about 3.3 million holdings in the "Small Holdings sector" out of which 1.5 million was enumerated in the category of less than 40 perches in extent. The rest 1.8 million was found to be more than 40 perches or their produce is mainly devoted for sale purposes.

Kind of data

Census/enumeration data [cen]

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

The questionnaire was published both in Sinhala / Tamil languages. Main sections were: Identification Information Agricultural Operator Agricultural Holding Extent under permanent crops Seasonal crops Agriculture Machinery/Equipment Livestock Other Information Land Utilization

Cleaning operations

Data editing took place at a number of stages throughout the processing, including:

a) Manual editing and coding b) During data entry (Range edits) c) Computer editing - Structural and consistency d) Secondary editing e) Imputations

Detailed documentation of the editing of data can be found in the "Data processing guidelines" document provided as an external resource. -To data entry and computer editing used IMPS software package developed by the US Bureau of the Census.