Integration of Agricultural Census in the National Survey Program in Indonesia

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Integration of Agricultural Census in the
National Survey Program in Indonesia

• By Pietojo and Puguh B Irawan
• BPS-Statistics Indonesia
• E-mail pietojo_at_bps.go.id, pbirawan_at_mailhost.bps.g
  o.id
  
• Presented at Roundtable Meeting on Program for
  the 2010 Round of Censuses of Agriculture,
  Bangkok, Thailand, 28 November 2 December 2005

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Brief history (1)

• Up to now, BPS-Statistics Indonesia has carried
  out five agricultural censuses ? that was in
  1963, 1973, 1983, 1993 and the latest one in
  2003 then it will be implemented every ten years
  ahead as mentioned by Statistics Law and
  Government Regulation
• The agricultural census is one of core
  statistical programs, as the country is very much
  characterized by agricultural-dominated features,
  in terms of economic and social-cultural aspects
  of its populations life.

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Brief history (2)

• Contribution of agricultural sector to the
  national economy (GDP) was around 16 in 2004,
  the second largest after manufacturing sector
  accounting for 29
• Role of agricultural sector in generating
  employment was around 40.6 million workers, or
  around 43,3 to total working population in
  2004.
• Need of reliable, timely and relevant
  agricultural database as a basis for monitoring
  and evaluating progresses achieved in past
  agricultural policies and programs, and for
  formulating sound agricultural development
  planning in the future.

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Brief history (3)

• The availability of reliable agricultural data as
  a part of national census and survey programs
  developed by BPS-Statistics Indonesia to provide
  comprehensive social and economic statistical
  system.
• In attempts to maintain the effective use of
  data, data collected from agricultural census and
  other surveys must reflect demand-driven basic
  data needs, based on the appropriate priorities
  of the main stakeholders, both public and private
  sectors.

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Topics discussed in this paper

• To describe a technical summary of the last
  agricultural census in Indonesia.
  
• To discuss experiences and issues of the
  implementation of the last census.
  
• To evaluate possible changes in agricultural
  statistical topics for further improvements in
  the next agricultural census.

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A technical summary (1)

• The 2003 Agricultural Census was a large-scale
  data collection activity, involving substantial
  financial resources and large number of field
  workers.
• Main objectives
• To establish a comprehensive and reliable
  agricultural database which capture the overall
  agricultural picture in Indonesia
  
• To provide a sound sampling frame used for a
  basis of sampling designs in subsequent and
  routine agricultural surveys
  
• To produce information on the number of farm
  households, small farming land holders (marginal
  peasants), distribution of land holdings, cost
  structure, agricultural production and farm
  households income.

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A technical summary (2)

• Census coverage farm households and businesses
  throughout the national territory
  
• In around 375,762 enumerating census blocks
• In 70,460 villages
• In 4,920 sub-districts Spreading over in 377
  districts in 29 provinces (Aceh was not covered
  due to security-related issues)

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A technical summary (3)

• Implementation due to large coverage of data
  collection, census activities were implemented
  step-by-step, spanning over 4 budget years from
  2002-2005.
• In 2002 updating of maps of enumerating census
  blocks, complete enumeration of potential
  villages, and updating of directory of
  agricultural enterprises
• In 2003 listing of households, post enumeration
  survey, and preliminary data processing
  
• In 2004 further data processing and data
  analysis of listing results, undertaking of
  subsequent sample surveys of agricultural
  household businesses by sub-sectors, sample
  survey of farmers income
• In 2005 Data processing and analysis of the
  results of sample survey, implementation of
  survey of fishery household firms

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A technical summary (4)

• 3 Major Activities in the 2003 Agricultural
  Census
  
• Updating the directory of agricultural
  enterprises by revising the previous 1993
  directory based on official records from
  government agencies, followed by verifying the
  revised version in the fields at sub-district
  level.
• Building and household listing carried out by
  separating urban-rural classification of areas
  urban areas are further distinguished by coastal
  and non-coastal zones. Non-coastal zone were
  grouped into 2 strataconcentrating and
  non-concentrating zones of agricultural
  businesses.
• Implementation of 9 subsequent sample surveys of
  household enterprises on paddy cultivation, other
  food cultivation, horticultural farming, estate
  crops, livestock husbandry, households living in
  the forest areas, farmers income, fishery
  farming (in fresh water) and fishing.

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Issues and experiences (1)

• Due to large-scale activity, various issues
  inevitably rose during census planning,
  development of census methodology and sampling
  design, data collection, data processing and
  analysis.
• Census planning due to limited budget
  allocation (Rp 400 billions), undertakings of
  various activities in the census were split into
  several stages, spanning from 4 budget years
  (2001-5), thus raising time lag between two
  related activities.
• It brings about inconsistencies between
  information on households obtained from the
  listing in 2003 and those selected as samples in
  subsequent surveys in 2004, i.e. changes in
  addresses and enumerating area boundaries, in
  household economic activities and commodities
  cultivated.

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Issues and experiences (2)

• Field work involvement of a huge number
  of field workers with varied qualifications
  potentially led to different interpretation of
  concepts and definitions employed in survey
  instruments, in turn affecting the overall
  quality of agricultural data collected.
• Data processing Instead of speeding up
  the data processing, the use of scanners in data
  entry led to the delay of time schedule for the
  overall agricultural census activity. In many
  cases, scanners failed to detect various types of
  numbers or digits filled in the questionnaires by
  different handwritings from large number of field
  workers.

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Evaluation for further improvements (1)

• While provision for comprehensive and reliable
  agricultural database is crucial for Indonesia,
  priorities need to be given in order to focus on
  strictly selective topics of agricultural issues
  that are most relevant for Indonesian development
  agenda nowadays.
• From the evaluation of various information
  collected in the 2003 Agricultural Census
  compatible with the likely utilization of data by
  relevant stakeholders (both public and private
  sectors), there are urgent needs for reducing the
  length of questionnaires and for improving
  sampling methodologies in such a way that would
  eases respondent burden in providing information
  needed in the next agricultural census.

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Evaluation for further improvements (2)

• Simplifying questionnaire designs in the next
  census may be done through intensive
  consultations with relevant stakeholders and
  thorough review of medium- and long-term
  development planning, in order to establish a
  list of issues, priorities and goals for
  agricultural development programs in the coming
  years.
• Current major issues in agricultural sector
• National agricultural development strategy is to
  increase agricultural productivity, to boost
  agribusiness and to improve the wellbeing of
  farmers
• High dependence on agricultural economy among
  rural population with the majority of being poor,
  worsened by unequal land distribution
  
• Decentralization process poses opportunities and
  challenges in light of the prospect of
  agricultural development at regional levels

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Concluding remarks

• The increasing demand for reliable and
  comprehensive database in agriculture that
  satisfies all different data users always poses
  challenges and opportunities.
• The demand for data should be tailored with
  available resources and relevant scopes in the
  current agricultural issues.
  
• It must reflect demand-driven data needs based on
  the appropriate priorities of the main
  stakeholders, both domestic public and private
  sectors.
• At the same time, it should provide the needs of
  external data users including international
  agencies and foreign investors.
  
• Given the significance of agricultural data in
  the national statistical system for supporting
  Indonesian development agenda, the regular
  implementation of the agricultural censuses
  definitely needs to be maintained in the future.

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THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR KIND COOPERATION D
URING MY PRESENTATION