1500 holdings have already participated in Agricultural Census

“For the first time it is possible to participate in the census via Internet and respondents have used this opportunity quite actively”, said Ms. Eve Valdvee, Statistics Estonia’s Project Manager of the Agricultural Census. “New data collection system functions smoothly and 1500 holdings have already submitted the data via Statistics Estonia’s electronic data transmission environment eSTAT. We hope of course that the e-census participation will increase because we aim to collect as much data as possible via Internet”, noted Ms. Valdvee.

“The internet-based e-census of Agricultural Census is a simple and comfortable way to complete the Agricultural Census questionnaire”, believes Eve Valdvee. “The questionnaire can be filled at any time suitable for the respondent and all data on the land use and animals submitted earlier to the Agricultural Registers and Information Board (ARIB) have already been pre-filled in the questionnaire”.

Both, legal persons and private persons can submit the data by e-census. Private persons who have not registered as users of eSTAT can submit data in e-census until 10 September midnight. “In case they do not use this opportunity, they will be visited by the enumerator of Statistics Estonia from 15 September to 15 November”, explained Eve Valdvee.

All legal persons and private persons who have registered as users of eSTAT before 19.07.2010 can submit the data via eSTAT from 1 September to 1 October.

Agricultural holdings where there is at least one hectare of utilised agricultural land or where agricultural products are produced mainly for sale are under observation in Agricultural Census. There are nearly 30,000 such holdings in Estonia.

The Agricultural Census will provide an in-depth overview of agriculture, and on the basis of Census results it will be possible to compare Estonia with other EU Member States. The collected data would form a basis for preparing the Common Agricultural Policy of EU and for decision taking in the matters related to agricultural supports. The Agricultural Census will cost more than 10 million kroons, of which nearly a half will be covered by the Commission of the European Communities.

The Agricultural Census will be conducted for the sixth time in Estonia. The previous Agricultural Censuses were organised in 1919, 1925, 1929, 1939, and after the restoration of independence in 2001. In the European Union countries, Agricultural Censuses are conducted in 2009 and 2010. In the European Union countries, Agricultural Censuses take place every ten years.

Additional information on the 2010 Agricultural Census can be found on the website of Statistics Estonia /uudised/ac2010.