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PROGRAMME FOR THE 2010 ROUND OF CENSUSES OF

AGRICULTURE

CLASSIFICATIONS

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What is statistical classification?

Classification refers to the collection or presentation of data in classes in a structured format.

Two elements of classification:– The classes used for the data; e.g., for what crops

should data be collected?– The structure of the classification; e.g., what is the

most logical way of grouping the crops for presentation purposes (such as cereals, vegetables, etc.).

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International classifications

There are many classifications used in the agricultural census. For many items there are international classifications, which should

be used as the basis for classifications in any statistical collection. In the agricultural census:

- Occupation (page 108) (as per ISCO of ILO)

- Labour (page 106) (as per ILO).

- Population/demographic data, such as marital status (page 105, as per int’l standards of UN).

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Other classifications in the agricultural census

1. Land use (e.g., temporary, permanent crops).

2. Crops (e.g. cereals, fruits).

3. Livestock types (e.g. ruminants, poultry).

4. Machinery (manual-operated, animal-powered).

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1. Land use classes in the agricultural census

No universally accepted standard. For the purpose of agri-census and int’l comparability, it is recommended 7 classes (page 76, WCA 2010):

1. Land under temporary crops (<1 year);

2. Land under temporary meadows;

3. Land temporarily fallow (> 1 year);

4. Land under permanent crops;

5. Permanent meadows and pastures;

6. Forest or other wooded land;

7. Other land (e.g. buildings, parks, gardens, wasteland).

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1a. Structure of land use classification

I II III IV Agricultural land Cropland Arable land Land under temporary

crops Land under temporary

meadows Land temporarily

fallow Land under

permanent crops

Permanent meadows and pastures

Forest or other wooded land

Other land

For results presentation, classes need to be grouped in a suitable way. No standard way. FAO recommends:

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2. Main crop groups

FAO developed the Indicative Crop Classification (ICC) based on UN’s CPC:

1. Cereals (e.g. rice, wheat)

2. Vegetables and melons

3. Fruit and nuts

4. Oilseed crops (e.g. soya, coconuts)

5. Root/tuber crops (e.g. taro, potatoes)

6. Beverage and spice crops (e.g. coffee, tea)

7. Leguminous crops (e.g. beans, peas)

8. Sugar crops (e.g. sugarcane)

9. Other crops (e.g. grasses, fibre crops, tobacco).

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3. Main livestock groups

Eight groups (appendix 5, p.151, WCA 2010):1. Large ruminants (cattle)

2. Small ruminants (sheep)

3. Pigs or swine

4. Equines (horses, mules, asses)

5. Camels or camelids

6. Poultry (chickens)

7. Other animals (deer, rabbits)

8. Insects (bees, silkworms)

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Main machinery groups

Three major groups (appendix 6, p. 152, WCA 2010):1. Manually-operated machinery (e.g. seed drill)

2. Animal-powered machinery (e.g. wooden plough)

3. Machine-powered machinery: General farm machinery (e.g. electric generators) Tractors, etc. Crop equipment (land preparation, crop maintenance, crop

harvesting, post-harvest machinery) Livestock machinery (e.g. milking machine) Aquaculture machinery