Heading Towards the 2023 Agricultural Census

Food security has always been a compelling topic throughout the ages. The agricultural sector, as the main sector for fulfilling food needs, requires accurate and up-to-date data. The challenge of obtaining this data will be addressed by the ten-yearly agenda for agricultural data collection organized by Statistic Indonesia-BPS, known as the Agricultural Census.

The first agricultural census was conducted by BPS in 1963. Since then, the agricultural census has evolved. Initially, it was only conducted in rural areas, using a single method—paper and pencil. However, in 2023, the scope will expand to include both rural and urban areas, with additional data collection methods, such as Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) and Computer Assisted Web Interviewing (CAWI). Moreover, the 2023 Agricultural Census (ST2023) is designed to meet international standards, adhering to the FAO's World Programme for the Census of Agriculture (WCA). The resulting data will include key national agricultural data, data on small-scale farmers, SDGs agricultural indicators, small-scale food producers, and agricultural geospatial statistics.

As preparations for the major event of ST2023 are underway, Statistic of South Kalimantan Province has already held a regional coordination meeting (Rakorda) to promote ST2023. This meeting took place from November 1-4, 2022, at the Rattan Inn Hotel in Banjarmasin. The event was officially opened with a joint rice-cutting ceremony by Yos Rusdiansyah, SE, MM (Head of BPS South Kalimantan), Muhammad Adnan, S.Si, M.Si (BPS RI), and Imam Subarkah, SP (Department of Food Crops and Horticulture, South Kalimantan), accompanied by Ahmad Mudzakkir (Head of General Affairs, Statistic of South Kalimantan Province), and Ir. Rismanto, MP (Chair of the 2023 Agricultural Census Team).

In his speech, Yos Rusdiansyah expressed hope that the Rakorda ST2023 would provide new insights into agriculture and serve as a starting point for the dissemination of information about the 2023 Agricultural Census to related government departments and institutions. Several key speakers at the ST2023 event included Imam Subarkah, SP (Department of Food Crops and Horticulture, South Kalimantan), Gandang Saputro (Department of Plantations and Livestock, South Kalimantan), Ir. Umi Salawati, M.Si (Academician, ULM), Drs. Andi Muharram (Lead Farmer Contact), Benny Tomasila, SP (Social Forestry and Environmental Partnership Office, Kalimantan), and Muhammad Adnan, S.Si, M.Si (BPS RI). The event was attended by representatives from BPS offices across South Kalimantan

The ST2023 is expected to provide dynamic agricultural data needed at both national and global levels. Hence, the seventh agricultural census in ST2023 carries the theme: "Recording Indonesia's Agriculture for Food Sovereignty and Farmers' Welfare". (Nanda PP)