Linking the population and housing census and the census of agriculture for the 2020 round: Advantages and challenges

Abstract

In many developing countries, Population and Housing Censuses (PHC) and Censuses of Agriculture (CAs) remain two key sources for basic and structural data on the characteristics of the population and the agriculture sector. However, these two operations are highly expensive and many countries find it difficult to conduct them in the internationally recommended time frame of ten years. This is particularly true for the CA, which is conducted with very irregular frequency (or not at all) in many developing countries. In addition to funding issues, constraints include inappropriate institutional set-up often characterized by a lack of coordination and cooperation between the institutions concerned (particularly National Statistical Offices and Ministries of Agriculture), the non-integration or linkage of CAs with agricultural surveys, administrative sources and other major censuses and surveys in the national statistical system, particularly the PHC. The adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which have created increased data demands and emerging technological tools provide new opportunities that can help in better linking the CA with the PHC and a more integrated statistical system. This can result in a wider database for more in-depth analysis of interactions between agriculture and the socio-economic environment and contribute to monitoring the SDGs. This paper will provide an overview of some of the advantages and issues of linking the two censuses in light of the new international guidelines on the PHC 2020 and the World Programme for Census of Agriculture (WCA) 2020, and present some country examples.