Agriculture Census 2021-22 to provide critical data on land holdings, irrigation, cropping patterns and women farmers, shaping future agricultural policy and rural development

Key Highlights

• 11th Agriculture Census (2021-22) has completed fieldwork and data collection across all three phases.
• Census is conducted every five years in collaboration with States and Union Territories.
• Phase I covered complete enumeration of agricultural holdings and operational land area.
• Phase II gathered data on cropping patterns, irrigation status and farm characteristics from selected sample villages.
• Phase III focused on input use patterns across operational holdings.
• Census findings will guide policies on land use, irrigation, mechanisation, subsidies, credit and rural development.
• Data on women-operated agricultural holdings will support gender-focused agricultural initiatives.
• Information was shared by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Ramnath Thakur in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

Government Completes Fieldwork for 11th Agriculture Census 2021-22

The Government of India has completed the fieldwork and data collection for all three phases of the 11th Agriculture Census (2021-22), marking an important milestone in the country’s largest agricultural data collection exercise.

Conducted every five years in collaboration with States and Union Territories, the Agriculture Census serves as one of India’s most comprehensive databases on agricultural land holdings and farming practices. The current census began in 2022, and all three phases of field operations have now been completed within the prescribed timeline.

What the Agriculture Census Covers

The Agriculture Census is conducted in three stages to build a detailed profile of India’s farming landscape.

• Phase I: Complete enumeration of agricultural holdings and operational land area across the country.
• Phase II: Collection of information on cropping patterns, irrigation status and other farm characteristics from 20% of sample villages in each tehsil.
• Phase III: Assessment of input use patterns from 7% of sample villages in every tehsil.

The comprehensive dataset offers insights into the number and size of operational holdings, land ownership patterns, tenancy, land consolidation and distribution across different categories, including marginal, small, semi-medium, medium and large farms.

Data to Guide Future Agricultural Policies

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the Census serves as a key planning tool for policymakers and researchers.

The findings help the Government in:

• Planning irrigation and water resource development.
• Promoting crop diversification and farm mechanisation.
• Improving land-use planning.
• Targeting agricultural subsidies and institutional credit.
• Designing rural development programmes.
• Establishing national and regional agricultural priorities.
• Supporting policies for women-operated agricultural holdings and gender-inclusive farming.

The database is also widely used by researchers, planners and institutions for evidence-based policy formulation and long-term agricultural planning.

Hospitality, Food & Tourism Impact

Although the Agriculture Census is primarily a statistical exercise, its findings have significant long-term implications for India’s hospitality, foodservice and tourism sectors.

• Better agricultural data enables policymakers to strengthen food production and improve supply chain planning, benefiting hotels, restaurants and catering businesses that rely on consistent access to farm produce.
• Insights into irrigation, cropping patterns and land use can support more resilient production of cereals, fruits, vegetables, spices and other ingredients essential to the hospitality industry.
• Data-driven agricultural planning encourages regional crop specialisation, helping promote local cuisines, geographical indication (GI) products and culinary tourism.
• Information on women-operated farms and smallholder agriculture can strengthen community-based food enterprises, farm experiences and rural tourism initiatives linked to local gastronomy.
• Improved agricultural planning also supports the growth of farm-to-table hospitality, sustainable sourcing and destination dining experiences that increasingly appeal to domestic and international travellers.

Hospitality Outlook

The completion of the 11th Agriculture Census lays the groundwork for more informed agricultural policies that can strengthen India’s food ecosystem. For the hospitality industry, better agricultural intelligence translates into stronger food supply chains, improved ingredient availability, greater support for regional cuisines and new opportunities for culinary, rural and agritourism experiences.