The Ministry of Planning has asked officials to interview all farming households during the second decennial national agricultural census, which began on April 1, to gather clear and specific data for preparing policy guidelines.
Rin Virak, permanent secretary of state at the planning ministry, made the call during a field visit in Kandal province to check on the census progress in Sa’ang district’s Teuk Vil commune on April 1. He was accompanied by provincial governor Prak Sarath.
Virak urged farming households and agricultural enterprises to provide clear and honest information to the census takers.
“[Virak] has asked that interviewers and supervisors collect clear and specific statistical data so policies can be prepared that will produce good results for all farmers,” said the provincial administration in a social media post.
In a video address a few days before the start of data collection, planning minister Chhay Thorn said the census would be widely used by the public and private sectors as a key input for developing policies for the economic, environmental, social and cultural wellbeing of the people.
“The data will provide important indicators for monitoring and following up the achievements of the implementation of the Socio-Economic Development Policy Programme as part of the government’s Rectangular Strategy Phase IV, and the development of other strategic policies and programmes,” he said.
“I appeal to agricultural enterprises and farming households of all kinds and scales to provide accurate and complete information on the questionnaire,” he urged.
The first census was done in 2013, with the law on statistics specifying that it must be conducted every 10 years.
The 2023 agricultural census will last for 30 days throughout April.
