Agricultural census is essential to take stock on the current state and actual trends of a country’s agriculture.  It provides a wide array of statistical information for agricultural planning and policy-making.

To this end, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the European Union (EU) provided financial support to publicize the report of the latest agricultural census of the Republic of Tajikistan conducted in 2013.

The edition contains information and data on agricultural land, vine and orchard areas, use of organic and mineral fertilizers and chemicals for crops, livestock and crop production and productivity, use of remote pastures for livestock grazing and so on – all disaggregated by producer categories.

The 2013 census of agriculture was the first ever in Tajikistan.  It was that within overarching statistical program that was designed upon recommendations of the FAO for the agricultural census, as part of the 2010 World Agricultural Census.

“The census of agriculture is a valuable source of comprehensive and valid data for every nation in the world,” said FAO Representative in Tajikistan, Oleg Guchgeldiyev.  “It can help understand environmental issues that may affect agricultural output, such as fertilizer and pesticide use, tree and soil cover, and others.  Household data from agricultural census can also reveal social trends affecting food safety and security, for instance changes in household structures and demographic patterns.”

Information provided by local governments, agribusinesses, farmers, trade and farm associations, extension educators and researchers are designed to paint a precise picture of the state of agriculture that offers law and policy makers the information they need when considering and drafting rules and legislation to support the agricultural sector.

The electronic version of the edition is available in Tajik and Russian languages on the website of the Agency for Statistics under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan.

Activities related to agricultural data and statistics were supported by the European Union-funded project, Strengthening Institutions and Capacity of the Ministry of Agriculture and State Veterinary Inspection Service for Policy Formulation.  The main objective of the project is to assist the government in agricultural sector’s institutional reforms, improving food safety and security, and quality of agriculture data.