The Census of Agriculture in Panama will be conducted in August 2024

eighth National Census of Agriculture It will take place in August 2024, the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC) reported on Tuesday.

The pre-census phase will begin this year with various processes, including the preparation of questionnaires, technical documentation, organization of data collection, among others.

The experimental population census will be held in September 2023 as part of preparations for the general one.

For the field operation, there will be a “entitlement inventory” (meaning it will not be done in one day) in which direct visits to farms, land globes or plots will be conducted for interviews. with producers, whistleblowers or site administrators.

Samuel Moreno, director of INEChe explained that the census will be conducted in a hybrid manner through mobile recording devices used in the national censuses and paper questionnaires, for hard-to-reach areas.

The list, which consists of 16 chapters and more than 200 questions, includes new topics related to the classification of producers, diseases, pests, risks, social security and artisanal fishing.

“We will use 135 census tracts and rely on them into the infrastructure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Development Panama’s Agricultural Innovation Institute,” Moreno said.

For his part, Controller Gerardo Solís emphasized that the agricultural census will enable the establishment of public policies for the development of this sector.

While Alexis Pineda, Deputy Minister of MIDA, reminded that it is essential for the agricultural sector to have accurate data, especially mapping that shows where planted hectares, types of crops, among other aspects.

“An independent voice will give us that vital information to redouble our efforts, on issues such as type of technology used by producers or land tenurePineda commented.