Introduction
The Agriculture Census is a statistical operation for collecting processing and disseminating data on the structure of agriculture, covering the whole or a significant part of the country which is conducted every 10 years. The first agricultural census of Fiji was conducted in 1968, the second one in 1978 and the third in 1991. The fourth Agricultural Census will be conducted this year (2009).

What is Agriculture Census?
Agriculture Census involves the collecting of key structural data by complete enumeration of all agricultural holdings using sampling frames. The Agriculture Census is a government activity, undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture which will include the enumeration of all farming programmes by Village, Tikina and Province regarding land tenure, livestock and day to day activities by the household.

Why an Agriculture Census?
i) To provide objective criteria for planners and decision makers regarding agricultural and rural development
ii) Re-strengthening the On-Going Agriculture Statistics program

Where will be the Census?
The Agriculture Census will be conducted all around Fiji

When will the Census start?
The Agriculture Census will be from September, 2009 to November 2009.

Who will conduct the Census?
The Agriculture Census will be conducted by the staff of Agriculture Department of the Ministry of Primary Industries lead by the Economic Planning and Statistics Division.

How can you participate in the Census? 
Farmers can participate by providing the following information:

• General characteristics of the farm or non - farm
• Household and farmers' identification by province, tikina and village or settlement
• Total land of the farm or non farm by Land Tenureship e.g. Freehold, Crown Lease etc
• Classification of land area by commodity and crops planted
• What benefits /profits/loss do you get from farming, rearing livestock i.e. financially
• Total number of the family employed in the farm
• Total number of livestock on enumeration day
• What is the total number of Machinery and equipment owned by the total farm on census day 

What will happen to the information provided?
The information will be analyzed and a report will be published which will be used for agricultural development plans in the future.

Plea
Please provide reliable and accurate information on census day and we hope that the 2009 National Agriculture Census will be a successful one.


For further Information:
Economic Planning & Statistics Division
Ministry of Primary Industries
Private Mail Bag, Raiwaqa
Phone: 3373524 or 338 4233
Ext 292/289/270

OR

Helpdesk
Phone: 338 3583
Fax: 338 7157
Website: www.agriculture.org.fj
Email: agrihelp@govnet.gov.fj