86439 Livestock Questions in unit of agricultural production under single management, comprising all land used for Population and Housing agricultural production purposes and all livestock kept. Censuses: Why are They In developing countries, the largest share of agricultural holdings are managed by the farm Important ? household, i.e. a household in which one or more members are engaged in agricultural The Population and Housing Census is the production activities. It follows that, if farm largest statistical operation undertaken by households were identified in the Population country governments, every ten years on and Housing Census, linkages with the Census average. The Census collates information on the and the Agricultural Census and other quantity and quality of so-called human capital agricultural surveys could be generated, with a at national, regional and small area level, as multitude of benefits: well as on housing and on population’s access to basic services, such as water, electricity and  The identification of farm households in the telephone landlines. Population Census allows identifying all agricultural holdings in the country and, Results of the census, which have no or very hence, to build a sound sample frame for limited sampling errors, are used to ensure the agricultural census and for agricultural efficiency and equity in the distribution of sample surveys. public resources, such as for roads, human health facilities and schools. They are also used  If some questions on agriculture were asked as benchmarks for statistical compilation and as in the population census, the agricultural a sampling frame for sample surveys, upon census could be reduced in scale, thereby which many countries rely for the generation of generating savings. This information could good quality statistics on targeted domains. be also used to better define the coverage of the agricultural census and of Linking the Population and Housing agricultural sample surveys, e.g. by Census with the Agricultural Census improved targeting (minimum farm size). and with Agricultural Sample  Undertaking the Population and Housing Census jointly with the Agricultural Census Surveys or with agricultural sample surveys, or the The Population and Housing Census uses the latter soon after the former, would enable household as its basic unit. The 2007 UN the analysis of a much wider set of data, Principles and Recommendations for Population with the farm household allowing for direct ad Housing Censuses define the household as linkages between the different datasets. one or a group or two or more persons living Livestock Items in the Population together, who make common provision for food and Housing Census Livestock Data Innovation in Africa BRIEF or other essentials for living, and who may, to a greater or lesser extent, pool together their A number of agricultural data items can be incomes and have a common budget. included in the Population and Housing Census, The Census of Agriculture and other agricultural including on agricultural holders and their sample surveys use the agricultural holding as characteristics (e.g. sex and age); on farm area; their basic unit. This is defined as the economic crops grown; ownership of agricultural Numbers for Livelihood Enhancement www.africalivestockdata.org machinery; types of production system and Ultimately, the livestock content of the Census purpose of production; ownership and use of very much depends on the relevance of livestock; land tenure; agricultural labour force; livestock in the national economy, as well as on gender; and other. the policy process underpinning the formulation of the Census Questionnaire. The livestock content in the Uganda National Population and Housing Census Recommendations The 2013 Uganda Housing and Population Census The FAO UNFA Guidelines for Linking Population contains the following three questions on livestock: and Housing Censuses with Agricultural Censuses 1. ‘Does this household currently undertake any of recommends that an agricultural module in the the following agricultural activities? Population and Housing Census should as a o Exotic cross/breed cattle; minimum provide information to build an o Local cattle rearing; effective and up-to-date frame for agricultural o Goat rearing; censuses and surveys, i.e. at least a question o Sheep rearing; should be included on whether the household is o Rabbit rearing; engaged in any form of own account agricultural o Poultry/birds keeping; production (crops and livestock). o Apiculture’ The Ministries responsible for animal resources Answers include: ‘yes, within enumeration area’; ‘yes, may be tempted to ask for the inclusion of as outside enumeration area but within the district’; ‘no’. If there is any ‘yes’ to the above question, then the many as possible questions on livestock. following two questions are asked to the household: However, the value of including additional livestock-related questions should be carefully 2. ‘What is the main purpose of production?’ assessed, as it bears to risk to generate poor Answers include: ‘home consumption’, ‘sale’, ‘NA’. quality livestock-related data. For instance, 3. ‘Which of the household member is the holder?’ there are concerns on whether, in the context of Population and Housing Censuses, households report the exact number of animals, i.e. on whether data from the Population and Housing The FAO UNFA Guidelines for Linking Population Census could be effectively used to calculate and Housing Censuses with Agricultural Censuses the national livestock inventory. present examples of Population Census Questionnaires. These, in most cases, contain In any case, the way in which questions are the following two questions on livestock: formulated and the use of common concepts, definitions and classifications are of paramount  A first question is about whether the importance for making an effective use of the household rears or not some farm animals livestock data collected from the Population and, if yes, of which species (e.g. cattle; and Housing Census, including integration of pigs; poultry; etc.) Census data with data from other sources, such  A second question is about the number of as the Agricultural Census and livestock sample animals reared by species. surveys. Responses to the first question are essential to build an effective and up-to-date frame for a For further information please visit: livestock census or for a specialized livestock www.africalivestockdata.org sample survey, which may even target one specific sub-sector of livestock (e.g. small Or contact: ruminants). Responses to the second question Ugo Pica-Ciamarra, FAO provide an estimation of the livestock ugo.picaciamarra@fao.org population in the country, which is particularly relevant for countries that rarely undertake the Nancy Chin, FAO Agricultural Census and/or undertake nancy.chin@fao.org Agricultural Sample Censuses. Beyond questions on animal ownership and Livestock Data Innovation in Africa BRIEF number of animals owned, country governments have included a variety of livestock-related questions in the Population and Housing Census, such as on the purpose for keeping livestock or on who is responsible for tending the animals. Numbers for Livelihood Enhancement www.africalivestockdata.org