CHAPTER V

CENSUS IN NON-LAND RECORDS AREAS

Sample Surveys in StateJUTs Where Comprehensive

Land Records do not Exist

5.1. In the States of Kerala, Orissa, West Bengal,Meghalaya, Nagaland and Manipur and Union Terri-tories of Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Daman and Diu,Lakshadweep and Mizoram, no village revenue agencyexists for collection of crop statistics on an annualbasis. Similar is the position in the hill areas of UttarPradesh, two districts, namely Kanyakumari and Nilgirisof Tamil Nadu ,and Mikir Hills and North Cachardistricts of Assam. Agricultural statistics in these areaswere either, therefore, .built up through sample surveysor ad hoc estimates were framed. The revenue agencyon a small scale exists even in these areas but theyonly maintain records of ownership and are, therefore,not responsible for crop statistics. The question ofinstituting a village level agency for maintenance ofagricultural statistics was under the consideration ofthe State Governments and also ofthe Central Gov-ernment for a long time. Various technical commit-tees had recommended the institution of village levelagency in these areas. However, due to variousreasons the scheme could not make much headway.In these areas, there was therefore, no alternative butto undertake sample surveys for getting the data re-quired' for Agricultural Census. The National SampleSurvey Organisation is covering most of these Statesand Union Territories also. But the sample size is suchthat estimates at the State level and for broad regionsonly are made available by the National Sample SurveyOrganisation; The question of. carrying out samplesurveys in these areas to obtain estimates of variouscharacteristics of agricultural holdings at the districtlevel was considered in consultation with the Statesand Union Territories and the technical experts and itwas decided to carry out independent sample surveysfor the purpose.

Nucl~s Staff for carrying out the Sample Survey·I

.5.2 In each State and the Union Territory, referredto above, nucleus staff for carying out the, . census

operations was setup. Here again, in most of the Statesand Union Territories the Revenue staff or the staff ofthe Agriculture Department was utilised to collect thebasic data. Supervision of the primary work was doneby the statistical staff Enquiry method was adopted andall the agricultural households were listed out for en-quiry .purpose. The sample size varied from State toState depending upon the local conditions prevailingtherein. it was, however, adequate to provide estimatesof various characteristics of agricultural holdings at thedistrict level.

Objectives of the Sample Survey

5.3 The main objectives of the sample surveys thatwere carried out in these States and Union Territorieswere to obtain information on (i) number of agricul-tural holdings and their principal characteristics suchas size, form of tenure and land use pattern, (ii) areaunder crops, (iii) irrigation and drainage, (iv) use offertilizers, (v) number of livestock, agricultural machi-nery and implements owned, '(vW use of pesticides,(vii) age and sex distribution of farm population,and (viii) association of agricultural holdings withother industries.

Reference Year

5.4 As in the other States, the data was collectedwith the agricultural year 1970-71 as the referenceyear. \

Plan of Work

5.5 In' consultation with the concerned States'/- Union Territories' representatives the concepts, defi-

nitions, schedules and instructions were finalised inaworkshop held at New Delhi. A set of the schedulesalong 'with instructions which formed the . basis forcarrying out these sample surveys is given in Appen-dix II. In addition to the six tables which were com-mon to all the States, 17 additional tables were pres-cribed in respect of these areas. The surveys covered

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two phases. For the first phase only information onessential items was collected and the sample sizewas larger in this case. For the second phase itemsa sub sample of the main sample was taken up forcanvassing the schedules. The sampling design adop- .ted in respect of each State was as follows ~,

SAMPLING DESIGN

Kerala :

5.6 Two stage random sampling design was adop-ted for the Census. The Taluk was taken as the stra-turn. The census village or the urban block as per the1971 population census was taken as the first stageunit of sampling and the agricultural operational hol-der as the second stage unit. From each taluk about25 per cent of the census villages and urban blockswere selected separately by simple random samplingsubject to the condition that at least one urban blockwas selected from a taluk having urban area and alsosubject to the limitation that the total sample size forthe State should not exceed 1600 census villages/blocks. The selection of first stage units was doneusing separate lists of census villages and urban blocksformed for the 1971 population census. The totalsample size for the State consisted of 1400 censusvillages inthe rural area and 200 blocks in the urbanarea. In each' selected village/block a list of all theoperational holders was prepared. The operationalholders were grouped into 3 categories, as follows:

(a) holders operating less than 10 cents, (b) hol-ders operating 10 cents and above but less -than 1000cents, (c) holders operating 1000 cents and above,Operational holders in category (a) ",:ere not coveredfor detailed enquiry. From amongst those inCategory (b), a sample of 10 per cent ofthe holders was selected hy systematic sampling.All the operational holders in Category (c) werecovered. The selected holders of category (b)together with all the holders of category (c) formedthe main sample for the general enquiry on opera-tional holdings. From amongst the holders of cate-gory (b) included in the-main sample, a sub sampleof 20 per cent of the holders was again selectedsystematically. These holders together with all theholders in category (c) constituted the sub-sample fordetailed enquiry on operational holdings.

All the agricultural operational holders residing inthe State were covered in the enquiry.

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Orissa

. 5.7 For the purpose of this sample survey eachtehsil constituted a stratum and the selected revenuevillage and the operational holding were the first' stage.and the second stage sampling units. In respect ofthe main items like the number and size of operationalholdings, land utilization, area under crops, irrigationand tenure and tenancy, 50 villages were selected ineach tehsil by the random sampling method. In eachvillage 25 per cent of the operational holdings werecovered for the general enquiry. In respect of itemson information for detailed enquiry, a sub sample of20 villages (out of 50 villages already selected for the.general enquiry) in each tehsil was taken and the fol-lowing items of information in respect of about 5 percent of the operational holdings in each of these villa-ges were collected : (1) utilisation of fertilizers andpesticides, etc., (2) inventory of livestock, (3) inven-tory of agricultural machinery and implements, (4)farm population, and (5) association of agriculturalholdings with other industries. The operational holdersIn the sample village were classified into three cate-gories: (a) holders operating land of 10 acres andabove, (b) holders operating land of less than 10 acresand more than 1jl Oth of an acre, and (c) holdersoperating Ijl0th of an acre and less. For the purposeof general enquiry of holdings of category (a) and,25 per cent of the holdings of category (b) wereselected. The holdings of category (c) were omittedfor both general and detailed enquiry.

West Bengal ;

5.8 For the purpose of this sample survey eachSub-division constituted a stratum and the selected re-venue inspector circles and operational holdings werethe first and second stage sampling units. Out of 253revenue circles in the State, 130 were selected at ran-dom. All the villages in each selected circle were co-vered in the survey.

The holdings were grouped into three categories:(i) less than 0.04 ha, (ii) 0.04 ha-7.5 ha,(iii) more than 7.5 ha. Holdings in category (i)were excluded from the scope of the survey. Teri percent of the holdings in category (ii) were selectedsystematically. All holdings of category (iii) were co-vered by the survey. In respect of all the selected hol-dings information regarding tenure and tenancy, landuse, area under crops and irrigation was collected.

For the collection of information on inputs, a sub-sample of 20 per cent of the operational holdingswas covered.

Meghalaya(

5.9 The overall sample size for both generalenquiry and detailed enquiry was 2 per cent of theestimated number of operational holdings. Out of thetotal number of villages in the State, 10 per cent wereselected by simple random sampling method. Twentyper cent of the operational holdings in each selected'village were enumerated for general as well as detailedenquiry.

Manipur :

5.10, All the revenue villages of the Central Districtof Manipur and 13 selected villages of South Districtof Manipur were covered for the purpose of collectingdata under the Agricultural Census Scheme. Data onessential items were collected from all the operationalholders of the villages. For the purpose of detailedenquiry 5 per cent of the operational holdings werealone covered.

Goa, Daman &. Diu:

5.11 Stratified random sampling method was adop-ted for sampling villages. Thirteen Talukas of theTerritory formed the strata. From among the totalnumber of villages in each taluka, 25 per cent of thevillages were selected by simple random sampling. Ineach selected village, the data were collected throughhousehold enquiries covering all the households in thevillage. Thus out of 409 revenue villages in the Terri-tory (excluding villages included in the jurisdiction oftowns and urban agglomeration), in all 102 villageswere selected.

A sub-sample of 5 per cent of holdings was selectedin each selected village and these holdings were phy-sically measured by engaging trained surveyors.

Arunachal Pradesh:

5.12 A circle formed the strata in the UnionTerritory of Arunachal Pradesh. Ten per cent of thevillages in each circle were ra~domly selected and inrespect of all the operational holdings in the selectedvillages, information on essential items were collected.For data on inputs, a sub-sample of 20 per cent of theholdings was covered. So the overall sample size forgeneral enquiry was 10 per cent arid the one 'for de-tailed enquiry was 2 per cent.

Lakshadweep :

5.13 In the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, there5 M of A & 1/75-4

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are no comprehensive land records. No statistics wereavailable for planning purposes. Census was plannedon a complete enumeration basis. The Territory con-sists of 20 islands including one small uninhabited is-land called Pitti. Of the remaining 19 islands, 10 is-lands are inhabited. All these islands were covered fotthe purposes of Agricultural Census. Enquiry methodwas adopted and data in respect of each agriculturalholder was collected.

Ifill Areas of Uttar Pradesh:

5.14 The design adopted for the survey was a stra-tified two stage random sampling design, the Patwaricircle which is the lowest administrative sub-division ofdistrict constituted the strata. The villages in a Patwaricircle were taken as primary units of sampling whilehouseholds in the sample villages formed the secondstage sampling units. For this purpose two populatedvillages from each Patwari circle having 20 or lessvillages and three populated villages from each Pat-wari circle having more than 20 villages were selectedwith simple random sampling in such a manner that twovillages already randomly selected by the Directorateof Agriculture, U.P. for estimating yield rates of cropsfor the year 1970-71 were included in the sample.Data relating to the main items were collected in .res.,pect of all operational holdings of the sample village,whereas data relating to the subsidiary items werecollected from 10 per cent of the cultivator house-holds with a minimum of five and maximum of twentyhouseholds in the sample villages. The households wereselected through circular systematic sampling from theframe of all cultivator households in the village. '

There were slightly more than sixteen thousand'villages in the hill region of the State, out of which,2,075 villages were randomly selected, the samplingfraction being nearly one-eighth.

Kanyakumari & Nilgiris districts of Tamil Nadu :

5.15 In these two districts also no land recordsexist and as such the re-tabulation prooedure couldnot be adopted. A multi-stage stratified simple ran-dom sampling procedure was adopted for the conductof the sample survey in these two districts. The variousregions in the district were suitably stratified into asmany strata as required in order to ensure homogenouscharacter of each strata. Kanyakumari district wasdivided into two strata each consisting of. two Taluks.The urban and rural areas of' the Nilgiris district weregrouped into 5 strata.

In both the Districts 10 per cent of the villages/karas/urban blocks were selected from each stratumby simple random sampling method for the purpose ofthe survey. In each of the sample villages/karas/urbanblocks selected, 10 per cent of the operational holdingswere selected for the collection of first stage information(general enquiry). A 20\per cent sub sample wasselected from the main sample for collection of secondStage information (detailed enquiry). The sample sizeof operational holdings in respect of karas selectedfrom Kalkulam and Vilvancoda Taluks of Kanyakumariwas 25 per cent while the size of the sub-sample wasthe same (20 per cent) as applicable to other areasbecause of the high degree of hetrogeneity of thesetaluks.

Time Schedule

5.16 A tentative time schedule indicating the datesby which the various operations relating to these sam-ple ,surveys was sent to the States and this was subse-quently modified due to various reasons.

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Agency for field work :

5.17 The primary field work in these areas also wascarried out by utilising the services of the primary re-venue- staff, viz. patwaries, village assistants, rev~nueinspectors, tehsildars, village level workers, etc. Theywere given a token honorarium. Their work was super-vised by the higher officials of the different departments.The work of carrying out the sample surveys was en-trusted to the Bureau of Economics and Statisticsin Kerala, to the Board of Revenue and Departmentof Agriculture in West Bengal and to the RevenueDepartment and Bureau of Economics & Statistics inthe State of Orissa. In Manipur this work was handledby the Revenue Department. In Arunachal Pradeshand Meghalaya, Agriculture Departments were incharge of undertaking the sample surveys. In Goa, theDirector, Bureau of Statistics & Evaluation was incharge of the Agricultural Census work. In Laksha-dweep, this work was done by the Settlement Officer.

5.18 In Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Assam thesame organisations which conducted the Census in theareas where comprehensive land records exist werealso in charge of the sample survey work for the areaswhere no land records! are maintained.

5.1' In rgard to supervision, adeqaate care wastaken to ensure that the primary work done by theenumerators was supervised at various stages by a h;(;:-

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rarchy of supervisory officers. In Kerala, the supervi-sion of the work of the village assistants was carried outby the Revenue Inspectors and officers of the Bureauof Economics & Statistics. In West Bengal the CircleInspectors and Jr. Land Reforms Officers were super-vising the work of Tehsildars (equivalent to patwariesin other States). Senior officers of the Revenue andAgriculture Department had also been entrusted withthe supervisory work. In Orissa, the Revenue super-visors inspected the field work of the primary enu-merators. At the District level the administrative andtechnical control was exercised by the Collectors whowere assisted by the District Statistical Officers with acomplement of scrutiny staff. The manner and extentof supervision differed from State to State. Details in:this regard can be seen in the individual reports per-taining to these States.

Mode of Tabulation:

5.20 Except for Orissa, two districts of Tamil Naduand two districts of Assam, in rest of the areas tabu-lation of data was done through manual process. InOrissa, two districts of Tamil Nadu and two districtsof Assam, tabulation was done through mechanicalmeans.

5.21 In case of States and Union Territories wheremanual process was adopted, special staff was sane- 'tioned for the purpose.

5.22 As has been mentioned earlier; in these Statesand Union Territories, in addition to the six basict-ables, 17 additional tables giving information on useof fertilizers, pesticides, agricultural machinery andimplements, drainage facilities, association of agricul-ture with other industries were prescribed. Data in res-pect of these items have been presented in the individualState reports. Since no information in respect of theseitems was collected in States where retabulation me-thod was adopted, all-India estimates have not beenprepared.

5.23 The infrastructure for collection of Agricul-tural statistics at the village level needed strengtheningin these States and Union Territories. So far samplesurveys have been carried out to get data on impor-tant items or some ad hoc estimates were framed. Forthe first time under the Agricultural Census Pro-gramme sample surveys on a much larger scale wereplanned to provide estimates on various characteris-tics of agricultural holdings at the district level. Thedata thrown up by these sample surveys providevaluable basic data for better agricultural planning.