Page 27 - 1960 (3) Pakistan Census Of Agriculture Vol 2 West Pakistan

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into consideration the actual situation as is brought tain information on the cropping patterns of different:
out by, the Census. . The Census data can also be used sized farms in different areas.
in determining priorities in the distribution of new
lands as the l')icture presented in it of the size of farms 68. The census data are a great help in determin'.--
in various areas could provide useful indications. ing suitable locations for industries which are either-
dependent on agricultural raw materials or which ai11_11
65. The Census data by themselves may not be at selling their products to the agriculturists. The·
enough to answer all the questions of the pol.icy makers. location of the sugar factories can be cited as an example.
For instance, in determining relative cost of production Similarly, the business concerns dealing with farm,
.and· the comparative economics of different cropping tractors, machinery and implements can benefit from
patterns it would be necessary to supplement the census the data in the fixation of their sales and service,
data by appropriate farm management studies. In centres.
such cases the ,census data provide the necessary frame-
work for the farm management studies and for wider 69. The agricultural census data can also be
application of the conclusions drawn from such studies. used to improve the coverage and quality of the current
agricultural statistics. In some cases where the current
66. In the Rlanning of agricultural extension statistics do not cover all parts of the country, th.e,
service the census data can be of valuable help in census can provide at least a periodic picture of what
assessing the requirements of staff and materials for goes on in those areas. At present the current statistic_s.
various administrative 1mits. With the help of the data of different parts of the country are based on different
on the number 0f farms and farm area, the allocation systems 0f reporting in which the concepts of variou:s.
of the staff and resources for extension work could be items are somewhat different. The Census has for the-
rationally worked out in relation to the actual needs first time provided comparable statistics for the entire
of the administrative units instead of an ad hoc distri- country based on uniform concepts. It has opened
bution . of the staff and resources. Each extension the way for statistical sample surveys for which the·
worker could be made resp<msible for a fixed number Census data could be profitably used'·not only as the
of farmers with the help of the data. Moreover, the framework but also as a benchmark for the sake oi
-extension staff could avail themselves of the data in comparison.
defining the local agricultural problems and in sug-
gesting• {i:e1;_ttrn:ents. · 70. Reliable agricultural statistics are badly-
needed in the preparation of the national accounts.
67. Sometimes, it is necessary for the Govern- · The· present national income estimates are unfortunately
ment . to · launch price support policies. At times, . based on . .incomplete statistics. The Census of Agrt-
priqe fi'xation is used as a tool for bringing about culture has for the first time provided a complete picture,
~hanges in production patterns. In this context the of the agricultural . sector which would enable more-
census data can be useful as it contains information as to reliable estima,tes of the national income-in this sector ..
the number of cultivators likely to have marketable No do:ubt, many limitations of the present Census would
surpluses of particular commodities and likely · to be come to light when the Census data are put to actual
affected by procurement and price fixation pro- . use but that would ultimately assist in making:
grammes. Likewise, crop insurance p,rogrammes the next census of agriculture still more useful for
,can be . based on the census data which con- the country.