Survey of Agricultural Holdings 2022 (Georgia)

Abstract

The main purpose of the Survey of Agricultural Holdings is to produce official indicators in line with agricultural sector. The survey allows the compilation of statistics on crops and animal husbandry, of which information annual and permanent crops, sown area, average yield of annual crops and etc. Statistical tables are accessible through the following link: https://www.geostat.ge/en/modules/categories/196/agriculture.

One round of the survey (reference year) includes 5 inquiries: The Inception interview is carried out using the inception questionnaire during the period of January-February of the reference year. During this interview the sampled holdings are identified and situation existing at the holding as of first January is recorded. I, II and III quarter interviews are conducted by means of quarterly questionnaire at the beginning of the following month of the corresponding quarter of the reference year. Based on these surveys, the information about agricultural activities during the corresponding quarter is collected. The final interview is conducted by means of final questionnaire in January of the following year of the reference year. During this interview, the information about agricultural activities at the holding during IV quarter of the reference year and the summary information about agricultural activities at the holding during the whole reference year (from 1 January to 31 December of the previous year) are collected. During all five interviews, the same agricultural holdings (about 12 000) are interviewed which are selected by a two-stage stratified cluster random sampling procedure out of about 642 000 agricultural holdings operated in Georgia. On the first stage, clusters (settlements) are selected. On the second stage, holdings are selected within the selected clusters.

The survey completely covers the territory of Georgia, excluding the occupied territories of Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region. Each year a new sample is selected based on a rotational design (on a 3-year basis). In particular, every year approximately 4000 holdings out of the 12000 sampled holdings are replaced by new holdings. Sampled holdings participate in the survey for 3 years. Large agricultural holdings are sampled every year with complete coverage. The statistical unit of the survey is the agricultural holding (family holdings and agricultural enterprises) – which is defined as an economic unit of agricultural production under single management comprising all livestock kept and all land used wholly or partly for agricultural production purposes, without regard to title, legal form or size. Agricultural activities are conducted under the supervision of a holder (in case of households - a member of household, in case of agricultural enterprises - director or authorized person), who is responsible for making decisions and takes all economic risks and expenses related to agricultural activities.

More than 270 interviewers participated in the survey fieldwork. For the Data collection, computer-assisted personal interviewing method (CAPI) was used in the family holdings. In case of agricultural enterprises, the authorized persons of the enterprises (respondent) fill the electronic (online) questionnaires by themselves (CAWI). Coordination of the interviewers and the primary control of the collected data during the field is carried out by coordinators. Their working area covers several municipalities. The function of the coordinators also includes consultation for agricultural enterprises on methodological and technical issues related to the survey.