The 2024 Agriculture Census establishes a new baseline for creating a real-time, comprehensive and reliable database that assists agricultural development and more.
PEKAN: The 2024 Agriculture Census, which started on July 7, is currently being conducted by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) nationwide until Oct 10.
The census will be covering four subsectors: crops, livestock, fisheries and aquaculture, as well as forestry and logging.
In Pahang, the census conducted surveys on 83,550 residential units and 1,996 organisations or business entities that were involved in agricultural activities.
By July 19, it covered a total of 13,609 residential units, with 10,636 being fully surveyed.
Agriculture census commissioner Datuk Sri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin, together with Pahang deputy commissioner (technical) Razaman Ridzuan, joined supervisors and enumerators in the field from July 21 to 23, to conduct the census in Temerloh, Kuantan, Pekan and Bentong.
Mohd Uzir (middle in blue) together with Jaafar (far right) joined in the survey that lasted from July 21 to 23 in Pahang.
Several agricultural entrepreneurs and organisations were surveyed during this period, including active agricultural entrepreneur Sharifah Yusnida Saiyed Ibrahim, who operated on a 0.4-hectare land in Kampung Pulau Manis, Pekan.
She engaged in various agricultural activities, including aquaculture fisheries, cattle and goat farming, and oil palm cultivation.
Also present was Pahang Fisheries director Abdullah Jaafar who also serves as the Pahang Agriculture Census assistant commissioner.
Earlier, the Pahang Department of Statistics conducted the 2024 Agriculture Census Retreat Session, which involved 11 districts and several agencies under the agricultural sector, the Orang Asli Development Department, and the District and Land Office, at the district level.
During the session, the agencies involved expressed their full support and cooperation towards making the census a success.
They would act as facilitators and assist in coordinating the fieldwork for the census.
The agricultural census is crucial as it establishes a new baseline for creating a real-time, comprehensive and reliable database.
The new baseline is vital for providing basic data covering various aspects of agriculture according to standard norms and uniform classifications, facilitating international comparisons and benchmarks, ensuring that limited resources are effectively used to support agricultural development, and formulating effective policies and strategies based on evidence to address challenges and capitalise on opportunities in agriculture.
Findings from the census provide beneficial statistics to the state government when formulating future policies in its agricultural sector.
The census is aimed at achieving the development of an Integrated Agricultural Statistics Database, which will collate regularly updated information on the agricultural chain, from the upstream to downstream.
The census findings will also realise the government’s aspiration to advance the agricultural agenda through evidence-based decision-making.
This was in line with the needs and changing environment that demanded holistic, comprehensive, relevant and timely data.
The success of the 2024 Agriculture Census requires the cooperation of all households, institutions and organisations involved in agricultural activities.
All parties nationwide were urged to fully cooperate in the census implementation.
For more information, visit DOSM’s portal at www.myagricensus.gov.my and the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/bancipertanian2024. Follow on www.facebook.com/dosmpahang.
