NSO takes census of farms, fisheries

The National Statistics Office (NSO) deployed over 25,000 personnel in the first lap of the nationwide censustaking of the Census of Agriculture and Fisheries 2002 (CAF 2002), which began March 3. Taken every 10 years, CAF is a large-scale government operation that gathers data and generate the latest inventory of statistics on agriculture and fisheries.

Censustaking for CAF 2002 will be administered in two batches. Unlike in previous census for these sectors, the Census of Agriculture (CA) will be undertaken separately from the Census of Fisheries (CF). Enumeration for the CA will run from March 3 to April 5. Meanwhile, enumeration for the CF will follow in September.

NSO Administrator Carmelita N. Ericta explains that the 25-day enumeration will gather comprehensive data on farm characteristics and information on the size, location, tenure status, irrigation system, crops planted, livestock and poultry raised and determine the type and number of equipment and facilities used in the operation of agricultural activities whether owned by the farmers or rented.

Some 20,000 enumerators and 6,000 team supervisors from the ranks of the National Statistics Office and the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics of the Department of Agriculture will participate in the project. Over four million households in more than 11,000 barangays will be covered by CAF.

During the CA, enumerators will interview the agricultural operator within the household following a standard questionnaire on the agricultural activities of the household. The respondent is urged to answer correctly and completely during the census-taking to enable government to derive accurate information. The interview takes 15 to 30 minutes.

All individual information will be treated strictly confidential, as guaranteed by Section 4 of the Commonwealth Act of 591. It provides that any individual census report cannot be used for purposes of taxation, investigation or law enforcement. Penalties ranging from fine, dismissal to imprisonment will be imposed on violators of this law of confidentiality.