Agricultural Census, New Delhi Jobs Recruitment 2013 http://agcensus.nic.in/

Agricultural Census, New Delhi Recruitment 2013 http://agcensus.nic.in/ | Agricultural Census, New Delhi Jobs Recruitment 2013 http://agcensus.nic.in/

Since 1970-71, Agricultural Censuses have been conducted in India regularly at five yearly intervals to meet demands of data for planning of agricultural sector and also to meet the requirements of World Census of Agriculture organized decennially by Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Prior to 1970-71, National Sample Survey Organization, Ministry of Planning in 1950-51 and 1960-61, conducted sample surveys. Though, the information collected through these surveys were broadly the same as that in the present Agricultural Census, these surveys were not able to provide estimates at lower administrative levels such as districts or tehsils due to inadequate sampling proportions. Keeping in view the importance of data on structural aspects of agriculture and the periodicity of Five Year Plans, National Commission on Agriculture recommended conducting of Agricultural Censuses at five yearly intervals.

The architects of Agricultural Census thought it prudent to build the design of Agricultural Census by taking advantage of existing system of land records in the country. These land records relate to record of ownership of land and season-wise area enumeration for crops. Such detailed land records are maintained in about 87% of the operated area of the country. In the remaining 13% area of the country falling in the States like north-eastern States, West Bengal, Kerala, Orissa, an approach of household inquiry is followed.

Census Organization

At national level, the leadership for Census is provided by Agricultural Census Division in the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture under the guidance of Central Steering Committee. As per Constitutional provision, statistical surveys and inquiries fall in the Concurrent List and hence the Govt. of India is responsible for preparation of an all-India Census program keeping in view the diverse systems of maintenance of land records which is a State subject. The plan of the Census is prepared keeping in view the objective of high quality data and at every step of census taking rigorous procedures and standards are followed. The role of Government of India involves preparation of a plan of Agricultural Census of the country, to provide funding and technical assistance to the States for undertaking Censuses, to process the data and to bring out all-India results. In view of the organizational advantage in administration and mobilization of manpower, the responsibility for execution of the Census has been entrusted to the States with technical backstopping by the Centre. This approach of census has been found cost-effective and largely successful, keeping in view the inherent diversity in the systems followed in different parts of the country.

The total cost of Agricultural Census, 1995-96 including Input Survey, 1996-97 was Rs.480 million (about US $ ten million), which is quite reasonable given the vastness of the country and the amount of data collected.

Prior to 1990-91 census most of the tabulation was carried out in the field following a manual systems of tabulation. Computerization was used only for preparing all India results on the basis of State results. Keeping in view the requirements of fast retrieval of data even at lower administrative level like block/tehsil and the availability of technology, an attempt was made in 1990-91 census for the first time to develop a common software for processing the data collected in schedules. This software was developed by National Informatic Centre, Pune under the technical guidance of Agricultural Census Division, Ministry of Agriculture. However, in view of the varying capacities of the States to handle electronic data processing at their level, this software could be used successfully only in 19 States. This software was, however, used for almost all the States for processing 1995-96 census data.

Data Limitations

The all-India results have been prepared by adding up the results for States and UTs. The results of States have mostly been prepared by adding up results of districts. District level results have been prepared by adding up tehsil/block level results. The results at tehsil/block, which is considered as a stratum for sampling, were estimated using the multipliers based on sampling proportions and sampling design adopted in that strata.

In case of Bihar, where the census operations could not be completed in 1995-96 and 1990-91, the results were estimated based upon the data collected during 1980-81 census and the information available from other auxiliary sources.

The census could not be conducted in 9 districts of Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. The tehsil and district-wise results were prepared following the standard methodology for the district where census was conducted. The results for the 9 districts of Vidarbha region were estimated using the census data of 1991-92 and the information available from other secondary sources. Finally, these were added up to prepare results for Maharashtra.

Although, the census was conducted in Jammu & Kashmir, the primary data could not be processed using the common software because of problems relating to use of language and script and inconsistencies involved in the data. The State results were, however, estimated on the basis of tehsil level data provided by the State Government. This desegregated data have not been disseminated as it may contain many inconsistencies that might have crept in during the process of manual tabulation.

Acknowledgement

Government of India wishes to place on records the contribution made by over half-a-million primary workers who meticulously carried out the census operation in field despite their multifarious duties. These enumerators, known as Patwari, karnam, talathi etc., who are at the lowest rung of administrative machinery of revenue administration of the State, deserve all appreciation for their painstaking contribution in this mammoth exercise of national importance. Appreciation is also due to officers of Directorate of Economics & Statistics, Directorate of Agriculture and Board of Revenue of the States/UTs who have all been associated in one way or other in the process of census-taking.

Thanks are also due to members of Steering Committees at the Centre and State levels, who have continuously steered the census operations and provided valuable guidance and technical expertise to the process of census-taking.

Ministry of Agriculture wishes to acknowledge the contribution of National Informatics Centre, Ministry of Information Technology, Regional Computer Centres located at Kolkata and Chandigarh and scores of private data entry houses and thousands of individuals who have worked hard to transform the data collected through census operation from paper to electronic media. Special thanks are due to the manpower of Regional Computer Centres who have tried to maintain the quality of the data while processing it under the supervision of the State Governments and Agricultural Census Division, Govt. of India. The National Informatics Centre, Ministry of IT along with its field offices have played a pivotal role in managing the data entry, validation, processing and Tabulation in coordination with the Regional Computer Centres and  preparation of databases and its processing for wider dissemination through web. Special appreciation is due to Governments of Kerala and Karnataka, who besides organizing the field work for census, also took the initiative of doing the data entry and validation on their own without any external assistance.

The officers of Agricultural Census Division have contributed at all stages of census project including financial provision, administration and management, preparation of schedules and instructions, training of trainers and enumerators, carrying out field inspections, guiding the manual scrutiny, guiding the preparation of computer programmes and their testing, processing of data and final preparation of database for dissemination through  web.