Roundtable Meeting on Programme for the 2010 Round of
Censuses of Agriculture
Bangkok, Thailand, 28 November-2 December, 2005
Agricultural Census 2005 by Web-based Data Input Method
National Statistical Office
Republic of Korea
1. Outline of the Agriculture Census
1.1 Objectives
Agricultural Census aims at providing basic data which is necessary for the
implementation of economic development plans at national and local level; updating the
data from the sample population which is used for the improvement of every
agricultural statistic, and contributing to solving worldwide food problems by
exchanging data on comparable agricultural statistics among member countries of the
FAO(Food and Agriculture Organization).
1.2 Historical Background
Agriculture Census had been taken every ten years until 2000 since the First
Census was taken in 1960 under the recommendation of UN/FAO. In order to examine
the rapid changing of the agricultural situation, the beginning of independent regional
government, the fifth Agriculture Census was undertaken, extra-ordinarily, in 1995 by
the Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry (hereafter MAF). National Statistical Office
(hereafter NSO) conducted the 2000 Agriculture Census in March 2001 for the first
time since it was transferred into NSO from MAF in 1998.
1.3 Time Reference and Periodicity
1.1.1. Reference time
Reference date : as of 00:00 a.m. December 1, 2005
Reference period : from December 1, 2004 to November 30, 2005
1.1.2. Enumeration period
Preparation of enumeration : February 12 - 13, 2006 (2 days)
Field work : February 14-28, 2006 (15 days)
1.1.3. Periodicity
Quinquennial
1.4 Coverage and Statistical Unit
1.4.1. Coverage
All administrative districts in Korea are extended.
1.4.2. Statistical Unit
All private households that fall under one of the sub-categories of "farm
households" as defined in the explanation of terms. The other surveys of farm
establishments have been separately conducted every year since 2000.
1.5 Census items
1.5.1. Farm household members
1.5.2. Agricultural land
1.5.3. Crops
1.5.4. Livestock and poultry
1.5.5. Agricultural machinery
1.5.6. Turnover of agricultural and livestock products
1.5.7. Environment-friendly farming
1.5.8. State of e-information use
1.5.9. Housing & Living Conditions
1.5.10. Others
2. Recent Issues on the Agriculture Census
In order to meet users needs and agricultural conditions in the new era, the Census
is encountered to challenge in many aspects of which are managing system, census
items, questionnaires, coverage, survey methods and data processing etc.
2.1 Needs to unite three censuses
Until the 1995 Census, two Censuses-Agriculture Census and Fishery Census were
separately conducted in different Enumeration Districts (hereafter EDs) and by different
enumerators. In 2000, the two Censuses were conducted in the combined EDs and by
enumerators at the same time to reduce costs and man power, and in 2005 we are
seeking to combine the Forestry Census, which was conducted by Korea Forest Service
in 1998, with the existing KNSO Agricultural Censuses.
2.2 Changing periodicity
Nowadays users demanded more accurate, detailed statistical data more quickly,
not only the society is changing rapidly but the agricultural environment is also
changing rapidly. In fact, recent years agricultural households in Korea are decreasing
sharply every year. So we are planning to change the periodicity of the census
quinquennially instead of decennially from 2005 Census.
2.3 Reform data processing time
So far we have considered on data processing methods like ICR, key entry etc. As a
result, we decided on web-based data processing, in order to reduce the non-sampling
errors of the field work, and to improve the accuracy of the data. In order to save costs
on manpower and processing time.
3. Agricultural Census 2005 by Web-based Data Input Method
3.1 Concept of Web-based data input method
3.1.1 After we connect the Census web site, survey-completed data are input and
sent to the KNSO’ DB by personal computer in the field.
- It is a separate input method through personal computer and internet
network.
3.2 Background
3.2.1. We need a new input process paradigm, different from OMR, ICR, for
processing large scaled data as census quickly.
3.2.2. Data processing method by OMR needs much time, when we make out
questionnaires.
3.2.3. In Korea, high developed IT basement can construct high speed national
administration network and spread personal computer per 1 person to all
executive agency.
3.2.4. We can meet user’s demand by offering survey’s result quickly for the
‘timeliness’.
3.3 Procedure of web-based data processing method
3.3.1. Preview
- Construct web site
ᆞConsider using KNSO web site or exclusive web site for Agricultural
Census.
- Develop input program
ᆞDesign screen same as questionnaires or by survey items
ᆞInsert an error checking logic to input program or not.
ᆞSelect web-based or C/S based program.
- Consider the load of server and network, when users connect web
simultaneously.
- Load security module and secure exclusive network for preventing from
hacking etc.
- Secure band width of internet network for proper input speed.
- Decide input place
ᆞDecide to input data at the field or local government agency.
- How to secure the personal computer for data input.
3.3.2. Data input
- Educate how to input data
ᆞLogin method(URL, ID, Password, etc.)
ᆞHow to use Vaccine Program
ᆞHow to use input program
ᆞHow to overcome computation obstacle
- Input and modify questionnaires’ data
ᆞData can be saved at KNSO’ DB server immediately through network as
soon as enumerators input data.
ᆞWhen re-enter data owing to errors, we maintain raw data and corrected
data separately.
ᆞMaintain so as to recognize the operator and route about correcting errors.
3.3.3. Editing
- First Editing
ᆞWhen data input is finished by enumeration districts, we edit the data first
time.
-
Second Editing
ᆞEdit data more at the headquarter(KNSO) through web-based editing
program.
3.4 The results of trial survey
3.4.1. KNSO conducted trial survey two times by web-based data input method.
[Table1] Overview of trial survey
Amount of input data
Data input place
Input number of person
Input period
Amount of input data per day
First(Nov. 2004)
Second(Mar. 2005)
3,625 households
Town(Eub, Myun, Dong)
7 persons
6 days
86 households
20,770 households
County(Si, Gun, Gu)
30 persons
7 days
99 households
3.4.2. Problems during the trial survey
- Input program’s screen design
ᆞReconstruct screen so that users can make use of easily.
- Input speed
ᆞBecause some executive agency use low speed network, input screen
creation time can be delayed.
- Absence of field managers
ᆞOwing to the absence of field manager, it is delayed to cope with virus or
network obstacle, etc..
- Input time is delayed because there are no various input methods.
ᆞUsing the keyboard and mouse simultaneously prevent from delaying input
time.
3.5 Application of web-based data processing method
3.5.1. We execute across the board in Feb. 2006, the web-based data processing
method compensating for the errors during the trial survey.
- We make use of national administration network mainly, and also use VPN
for security etc..
- X-internet method is developed for input program, which has merits between
web and C/S.
- Screen component and input method are designed simple for users.
- At input place, we prepare management staffs focused exclusively on PC and
network.
3.5.2. Web-based data processing method can shorten input period, but the
number of input person is increased.
[Table2] Overview of Agricultural Census data input method
1995
2000
2005(tentative)
160million
150million
140million
Input
households
households
households
Input period
50 days
40 days
10 days
Input number of
284 persons
150 persons
1,620 persons
person
Terminal dispersion PC/key
entry Web-based
input
Input method
method
outsourcing method method
Transfer data
TTS
Off-line
On-line
Number of input 142 Local branch 7
outsourcing 189
Local
place
office
enterprises
government agency
3.6 Expectation
3.6.1. Raise ‘timeliness’(reduce the time of release about 2 months than that of
2000 Census)
- We can release result in Oct. 2006, for the purpose of shortening data input
period as early editing.
3.6.2. Various sample surveys could be improved by taking early sampling
surveys so as to reform them later on.
3.6.3. We expect it to improve data correction and reduce the field work in
dealing with the missing questions on the questionnaires.
[Appendix]
Current Situation of Agriculture in Korea
1. Structural weakness and low competition in agricultural sector
1.1 Since 1960, economic development for modernization in Korea has been
focused on the heavy chemical industries.
- The ratio of agriculture as a percentage of GDP was 3.2% in 2004.
ᆞ The ratio of agriculture as a percentage of GDP :
25.5%('71)→7.8%('90)→3.2%('04)
- Korea experienced a continuous decline in the ratio of agriculture as a
percentage of GDP : from 25.5% in 1971 to 7.8% in 1990, and further
decline to 3.2% in 2004)
-
"Economy of scale" is not functioning owing to the small scale of
management in agricultural sector.
ᆞ The cultivated area per farm household has reduced from 1.23ha in
1991 to 1.39ha in 2001.
1.2 Over the past 40 years, the average annual rate of growth in non-agricultural
sector has been 8% or 9%, whereas agricultural sector continued low rate of
growth between 2% and 3% per year.
1.3 Low international competitiveness in agricultural sector owing to the recent
increase in imports of agricultural & livestock products and protection of
agriculture through the farm-price-support system by government
- Imports of agricultural & livestock products increased from 6.4 billion $ in
1998 to 11.2 billion dollars.
2. Instability and insecurity of farm households' income
Farm household's income was almost same level as that of city household at
99.5% in 1994, but reduced to 77.6% in 2004 resulting in sharp increase in
income gap between urban and rural areas.
3. People are increasingly reluctant to reside in rural areas mainly because of
poor conditions in living environment and welfare facilities. As a result, usual
vitality in former days is disappearing in rural communities.
3.1 As the more people are concentrated in the metropolitan cities, people leaving
their farm lands are also increasing.
- Population in farm households decreased by 48.7% from 6.7 million in 1990
to 3.4 million in 2004.
3.2 29.3% of population in farm households is elderly population aged 65 and
above as a result of rapid progress in population ageing.
- Proportion of elderly population aged 65 and above in farm households
increased from 11.5% in 1990 to 29.3% in 2004.
3.3 Overall living conditions are very poor in rural areas ; for instance, basic infra
structures such as residence, water supply & drainage and roads, education,
medical service, welfare system etc.
4. Exposure to world competition system is inevitable and accelerated as time
goes by.
Market for agricultural products is being forced to open wider as the negotiations
for trade liberalization of agricultural products is in progress by WTO, and FTA is
being enlarged as well.(Imports of agricultural & livestock products increased
from 6.4 billion $ in 1998 to 11.2 billion dollars.)