PREFACE

Agriculture is the key economic activity and a source of livelihood for the majority of the population, thus a program of annual survey supplemented by a decennial census to establish changes in structure is a matter of major concern.

In recognition of the importance of improving and expanding the statistical base to provide for effective planning and policy making, Nepal has been conducting decennial census of agriculture since 1961/62.  This Agricultural Census Monograph presents a bird's eye view of the findings of the National Census of Agriculture – 2001/02 in all major aspects of agricultural activities.

The reference period for the complete count of agricultural holdings and total area of the holdings was 2001 as it was collected along with the listing operation of the Population Census 2001. The reference period for the rest of the characteristics of the holdings such as livestock and poultry counts, tenure of holdings, area of parcels, etc., was at the time of enumeration which was conducted from January to June, 2002.  Comparability and availability of data has restricted analysis since 1961/62 to few variables only. In order to access the growth and development of agriculture in Nepal, most of the comparative analysis presented in this monograph is between 1991/92 and 2001/02 agricultural census data.

As in the previous censuses, attempts have been made to adhere to the concepts and definitions recommended by the FAO so that there is comparability of data between censuses and internationally too. As per the local and international requirements, few new items of information have been included in the census which was not gathered in the past.  Aspects such as, soil type, soil color and food sufficiency/insufficiency etc. have been incorporated in the analysis for the first time.

There are 17 chapters in this report representing the different aspects in agriculture.  Chapter 1 provides a general perspective on the total households and population linking them to the farm population and holdings.  Chapter 2 to 5 present analysis on agricultural structure such as size of holding, land fragmentation, land tenure and land use. Analyses of temporary and permanent crops are dealt in Chapters 6 and 7. Chapters 8 and 9 examines the use of are agricultural inputs. Chapter 11 presents livestock and poultry population scenario. Chapter 12 deals on ancillary activities of agricultural holding and Chapters 10, 13 and 14 discuss other facilities available to the holding in terms of equipment, buildings and credit. Chapter 15 provides insight to disparity in holdings and operating pattern of holdings of male and female holders. The last two chapters analyze socio-economic characteristics of the farm population and farm labor.

This Monograph has been prepared with the combined effort of Mr. R. C. Das, Retired Senior Officer of the Bureau and Consultants from the Asian Development Bank who were involved at the initial stage of analysis. I would like to express my sincere thanks to them. My sincere thanks also go to Deputy Director General, Mr. Rabi Singh for his overall supervision and hard work put in by Statistical Officers Mr. S.L. Shrestha and Mr. R. Dhital. Thanks are also due to Computer Assistants Mr. L.N. Pandey and Mr. D.N. Shrestha for their computer works in preparation of this Monograph.