b)Crop production estimates are obtained by multiplication of area estimates by corresponding yield estimates

1.States and UT's which have been cadastrally surveyed and where area and land use statistics are built up as a part of the land records mantained by revenue agencies (referred to as "Land Record States"). The system of land record is followed in 14 states and also in 4 UT's . These States/UT's account for 86% of the reporting area .

2.The States where area statistics are collected on the basis os sample survey (normally known as Non-land Records States or Permanently Settled States which are three in number). A scheme for establishment of an Agency for Reporting of Agricultural Statistics (EARAS) has been introduced in these three states which envisages, inter-alia, estimation of areas by sample surveys in a sufficiently large sample of 20% villages/investigators' zones. These states account for about 9% of reporting area.

3.Assam (Hilly district) and North-eastern region where no reporting had been made and the work of collection of Agricultural Statistics is entrusted with the village headmen (5%).

While the area statistics are collected on complete enumeration basis in respect of states in category 1. above, on ad-hoc methods based on impressionistic approach in case of states in category 3. above, a scheme for Establishment of Agency for Reporting of Agricultural Statistics (EARAS) has been introduced in the three states in category 2. above.

a)Stratified multi-stage random sampling design is generally adopted for carrying out CES with tehsils/taluks/revenue inspector circles/CD blocks anchals etc. as strata, revenue villages within a stratum as first stage unit of sampling, survey numbers/fields within each selected village as sampling unit at the second stage and experimental plot of a specified shape and size as the ultimate unit of sampling. In each selected primary unit, generally 2 survey numbers/fields growing the experimental crop are selected for conducting CCE.

Final estimates of production based on complete enumeration of area and yield through crop cutting experiments can, understandably, become available long after the crops are actually harvetsed. However, the Government requires advance estimates of production for taking various policy decisions relating to pricing, marketing, export/import, distribution, etc. Considering the genuine requirement of crop estimates long before the crops are harvested for various policy purposes, a time schedule of releasing the advance estimates has been evolved. These estimates of crops are prepared and released at four points of time during a year as enumerated below.

The first official forecast of area and production of kharif crop is prepared in the middle of September every year when the south-west monsoon season is nearly over and kharif crops are at an advanced stage. This coincides with the holding of the National Conference of Agriculture for rabi campaign where states bring their assessments of the harif crops. Although there is no specific guideline/methodology issued by the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation (DAC) to prepare assessments, these are prepared by the State Governments based on the reports from the field offices of the State Department of Agriculture. They are mainly guided by visual observations. These are validated with the proceedings of the Crops Weather Watch Group (CWWG).

The second assessment of crop forecast is prepared in the month of January every year when the advance estimates of kharif crops collected during the meeting of rabi campaign, may undergo a revision in the light of the release of more precise information from states. Around this time the first advance estimates of rabi crops are also prepared.

The third advance estimates are prepared towards the end of March every year when the National Conference on Agriculture for kharif campaign is convened and the states come up with their assesment both for kharif and rabi crops. The earlier advance estimates of both kharif and rabi seasons are validated with the information available with the State Agricultural Statistical Authority (SASAs), the remote sensing data, the reports of Market Intelligence Units (MIU) as well as the model based yield forecast of rice and wheat made by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the proceedings of CWWG.

The National Workshop of SASAs for Improvement of Agricultural Statistics is organized in early June every year. Since most of the rabi crops get harvested by the end of May, the SASAs are in a position to supply the final estimates of both kharif abd rabi seasons as well as a likely assessment for summer crops. Thus, by taking into consideration the figures supplied by SASAs, the fourth advance estimates are brought out by the middle of June every year. Like third advance estimates, the fourth advance estimates are duly validated with the information available with SASAs, MIU, IMD and CWWG.

No minimum limit to the size of sampling is fixed. The sampling units are drawn as per sampling design.

The primary objective of GCES is to obtain fairly reliable estimates of average yield of principal food and non-food crops for each state and UTs which are important from the point of view of crop production. The estimates of yield rates thus arrived at are generally adopted for the purposes of planning, policy formulation and implementation. The CCE consists of identification and marking of experimental plots of a specified size and shape in a selected field on the principle of random sampling, threshing the produce and the recording of the harvested produce for determining the percentage recovery of dry grains or the marketable form of the produce.

a)See area above

The production of meat, milk, egg and wool in India is estimated annually on the basis of a central sponsored scheme "Integrated Sample Survey" for estimation of major livestock products. The scheme is implemented in all the states and UTs of the country.

A stratified multistage sampling design has been adopted for the above sample survey. Under this, a sample of 15% of the villages are selected from each State/UTs for complete enumeration of livestock population. Of these 155 villages, 5% are selected in each season i.e. Summer (March to 30th June), Rainy (1st July to 31st October) and Winter (1st November to the end of February). The districts in the State are taken as strata. The number of villages to be selected are allocated to each district (i.e. stratum) according to its livestock population. From these selected villages a representative sample of 10 villages per district are further selected for collection of detailed information on yield rates for estimation of meat, milk, egg and wool at the district level. The selected villages constitute the first stage sample unit whereas the selected household in the selected villages are the second stage sampling unit.The survey is conducted in each month of the season, which has been named as 'round'. The selection of the sample in the first round and the subsequent round is as below:

first round (first month):

-meat: 2 recognized slaughterhouses and all the households in the villages selected for the last sample

-milk: 2 clusters of 2 households each

-egg: 2 clusters of 2 households each

-wool: sample of 5 households (flocks)

2nd, 3rd, & 4th rounds (months):

-meat: 2 recognized slaughterhouses

-milk: 4 clusters of 2 households each

-egg: 4 clusters of 5 households each

-wool: sample of 8 households (flocks)

Note: Recording of wool yield is done in the shearing season in the selected villages in a sample of 5 to 8 households having sheep)

Selection of ultimate unit of sampling (third stage):

The ultimate unit of sampling, i.e animals, are selected in the following manner for recording the detailed information.

-meat: 3 cattle/buffalo, 3 sheep, 3 goats, 3 pigs

-milk: 2 animals in milk (1 cow and 1 buffalo or both buffaloes as the case may be and all goats in milk)

-egg: all laying birds, this will include all laying ducks wherever these are available.

-wool: 2 rams, 2 ewes and 2 lambs

The estimation of production are calculated seasonwise/districtwise on the basis of average yield per animal (as worked out on the basis of sample survey and estimated number of animals). The number of animals is estimated on the basis of the current population of animals collected under complete enumeration done in the first round of each season and corresponding number of animals, (in the sample villages) as per last livestock census. The total number of animals in the district or State are estimated by using ratio estimates. The States prepare reports on the basis of analysed data. At present no reliable estimate on meat production from animals slaughtered outside slaughterhouses is prepared.

Milk production data excludes milk suckled by young animals as yield rate of different in-milk animals are computed on the basis of actual weight of the milk obtained from animals.

Data are collected through household surveys between commercial and non-commercial establishments.

As far as egg production is concerned traditional sector consisting of household is well covered.

The survey covers 68 types of crops: 52 are food grains, 16 are non-food grains.

Ministry of Agriculture home page: http://www.nic.in/agricoop

These are annual publications which contains the latest agricultural statistics.

Web site (see below)

At the time of release of each advance estimates of production, a brief commentary in the form of a press note is also released.