Policy responses

Despite the travel restrictions introduced to address the pandemic, FAO has continued to provide remote technical support to countries undertaking agricultural censuses through video calls (Skype, Zoom) and emails. More and more countries have been moving away from door-to-door data collection modalities and towards the use of IT-based modalities. A stocktaking of lessons learned from the current crisis highlights some mitigation measures, which are in line with the recommendations presented in the WCA 2020 guidelines (FAO 2015, 2018):

- Use e-learning tools to train trainers, supervisors and enumerators.
- Reduce reliance on face-to-face interviewing and encourage respondents to self-respond through CAWI and CATI data collection modalities.
- Explore the broader use of more administrative records to source census data.

Many countries are receiving guidance tailored to their statistical development and available infrastructure.

Links and references

- FAO. 2020. Impact of COVID-19 on national censuses of agriculture (Status overview).Rome. - FAO. 2020. National agricultural census operations and COVID-19. Rome (Also available in: French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese and Russian). - FAO. 2020. The coronavirus and the potential blackout of national statistics: Reorganizing national statistical systems in the context of COVID-19. Rome. (Also available in: French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese and Russian). - FAO guidelines (World Programme for the Census of Agriculture 2020). - FAO. Global Strategy to improve Rural and Agricultural Statistics (GSARS). 2018. Guidelines on improving and using administrative data in agricultural statistics. Rome. - Eurostat. 2020. Farm structure survey - administrative sources. Luxembourg. - UNECA. 2020. Quick Assessment of the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Africa National Statistical Offices Operations. Addis Abeba. -  UNSD and World Bank. Monitoring the state of statistical operations under the COVID-19 Pandemic (Round 1, June 2020 and  Round 2, August 2020).

Pros - Prevent potential disruptions in the agricultural census activities (delays, postponement or cancellation of budgeting and cartography, recruitment of field staff and training, and fieldwork operations), in both developed and developing countries. - Maintain data quality and continuity.

Cons - Some developing countries may be less equipped to benefit fully from ICTs due to poor connectivity, high cost of access and lack of necessary skills. - Adequate time for testing and training prior to adoption should not be underestimated.

Minimum conditions - Institutional, financial, technological and digital capacities.