Each round of agricultural censuses covers a ten-year period. The present round (WCA 2010) covers agricultural censuses to be undertaken between 2006 and 2015. For this round, a new approach is being used, with the emphasis on conducting agricultural censuses within the framework of the system of integrated agricultural censuses and surveys and in the broader context of the national statistics system.

It is envisaged that countries will undertake their agricultural census in modules, rather than as a single one-off operation. The core module, preferably based on complete enumeration, will cover a limited range of key data required by national policy-makers and for sample frame construction. One or more sample-based supplementary modules will then be implemented as part of the agricultural census to provide more detailed structural data. This approach will reduce costs and allow countries to collect a greater range of data than in previous censuses. The new programme also provides for the collection of data on infrastructure at the community level.