ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) has launched the much-anticipated 7th Agricultural Census 2024, a groundbreaking initiative designed to leverage advanced digital tools for data collection. The census aims to address critical issues of food security, sustainable farming, and agricultural resilience by providing evidence-based insights for policy formulation.
Key Highlights:
Nationwide Operations
The field operations for the census commenced on January 1, 2025, and will continue until February 10, 2025. This marks a significant milestone in Pakistan’s efforts to modernize its agricultural sector and address challenges such as resource management, crop patterns, and farmer welfare.
At the launch event in Islamabad, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal distributed tablets to over 7,686 trained enumerators and supervisors. Ceremonies were simultaneously held in major cities, including Lahore, Karachi, and Peshawar, emphasizing the nationwide importance of this initiative.
Role of Advanced Technology
The census utilizes Geographical Information System (GIS) technology and a centralized dashboard for real-time monitoring, ensuring data accuracy and transparency. This digital approach aims to revolutionize agricultural data collection and enable targeted interventions for effective resource allocation.
Provincial Contributions
The census is a collaborative effort between federal and provincial governments, academia, and various related departments. Here’s how the provinces are participating:
Punjab:
Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman inaugurated operations in Lahore, highlighting the province’s critical role in agriculture, with 29.4 million acres of cultivated land contributing 24% of Pakistan’s GDP.Sindh:
Sindh Planning Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah launched operations in Karachi, focusing on the province’s role in producing key crops like cotton, rice, and sugarcane. The extensive training of 1,695 enumerators ensures high-quality data collection.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP):
KP Agriculture Minister Sajjad Barakwal underscored the importance of agriculture for the province’s 80% rural population, contributing 22% to KP’s GDP. Digital tools were provided to streamline data collection.Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK):
In Muzaffarabad, AJK Agriculture Minister Sardar Mir Akbar highlighted the significance of precise agricultural data for effective government planning. Digital tools will document land size, crop patterns, and livestock numbers.
Focus on Food Security
Minister Ahsan Iqbal stressed the importance of reliable data in shaping policies to tackle food security challenges. He warned of the implications of Pakistan’s rising population growth rate, which, if unchecked, could strain agricultural resources by 2047.
Comprehensive Approach
For the first time, data on machinery, livestock, and crops will be integrated into a single comprehensive census. This ensures actionable insights to enhance productivity and foster resilience in the agricultural sector.
