Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Next year’s agri census set to offer rounded view of sector

Next year’s agri census set to offer rounded view of sector

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
People load a batch of cassava on to a lorry in Kampong Thom province. Heng Chivoan

Next year’s agri census set to offer rounded view of sector

Cambodia is set to begin its second decennial agricultural census on April 1, 2023, a statistical operation for gathering and interpreting information covering all aspects of agriculture to serve as a basis for policies, strategies, action plans and projects aimed at promoting socio-economic development.

For the undertaking, the government issued Sub-Decree No 73 dated April 8, 2022 establishing the National Committee for the Census of Agriculture of Cambodia (CAC) 2023.

The sub-decree establishes the Minister of Planning as the committee’s chairperson; a planning ministry secretary of state as permanent vice-chair; one secretary of state from each of the Council of Ministers and agriculture, interior and finance ministries as vice-chairs; the head of the planning ministry’s National Institute of Statistics (NIS) as secretary; and 11 senior officials of other relevant ministries and institutions as members.

NIS director-general and committee chairwoman Hang Lina told The Post that the Statistics Law prescribes that the Census of Agriculture be conducted once every 10 years.

The Census of Agriculture is crucial for updating data on agricultural households and units of all sizes and kinds, covering areas such as labour, finances and production, she said, adding that results would be made public and used in the formulation of agricultural, environmental and socio-economic development policies as well as calculations of economic growth.

The duration of the census and time to publication of the results will depend in part on the budget provided by the finance ministry. However, CAC 2013 was undertaken in two phases: a core module (45 days from April 17 to May 31) and supplementary module (November 1-22), according to the NIS. The preliminary results were released on August 20, 2014 and the final report on December 10, 2015.

Yourng Pakk, CEO of value chain management company AgriBee (Cambodia) Plc, compared the census to a compass for the development of the Kingdom’s agricultural sector, and suggested that it be conducted every five years.

The survey will paint an up-to-date picture of the evolutions in cultivation and production, modernisation, and livelihoods, and provide a basis for policies and strategies concerning traders and investors across the entire sector, he said.

However, Pakk pointed out that there are major discrepancies between census data and statistics published by the agriculture ministry.

“Should we find a way to make the data we receive more accurate, it’d be more useful to all stakeholders in the agricultural sector.”

MOST VIEWED

  • Joy as Koh Ker Temple registered by UNESCO

    Cambodia's Koh Ker Temple archaeological site has been officially added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 17. The ancient temple, also known as Lingapura or Chok Gargyar, is located in

  • Ream base allegations must end, urges official

    A senior government official urges an end to the allegations and suspicions surrounding the development of Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, now that Prime Minister Hun Manet has addressed the issue on the floor of the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78). Jean-Francois Tain, a geopolitical

  • Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing

    To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable

  • CP denied registration documents by ministry

    The Ministry of Interior will not reissue registration documents to the Candlelight Party (CP). Following a September 21 meeting between ministry secretary of state Bun Honn and CP representatives, the ministry cited the fact that there is no relevant law which would authorise it to do

  • Cambodian diaspora laud Manet’s UN Assembly visit

    Members of the Cambodian diaspora are rallying in support of Prime Minister Hun Manet’s forthcoming visit to the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) in the US’ New York City this week. Their move is an apparent response to a recent call by self-exiled former

  • After three deferrals, Capital Gains Tax to take effect Jan 1, 2024

    The General Department of Taxation (GDT) will implement the Capital Gains Tax starting January 1, 2024 to after being deferred three times as industrial players warn that the implementation might have some negative impact on the property market growth, which is down due to the economic downturn.