Sample Surveys

Ongoing Projects:

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External Funded

Consultancy Projects

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Institute Funded:

Completed Projects

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Consultancy Projects

Agricultural Research Data Book (ARDB)

Agricultural research is a vital input for planned growth and sustainable development of agriculture in the country. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, being an apex scientific organization at national level, plays a crucial role in promoting and accelerating the use of science and technology programmes relating to agricultural research and education. It also provides assistance and support in demonstrating the use of new technologies in agriculture.

Information pertaining to agricultural research, education and related aspects available from different sources is scattered over various types of published and unpublished records. The Agricultural Research Data Book (ARDB) 2017 was published by the Division of Sample Surveys and released on 03 July, 2017 on the eve of Annual Day Function of the Institute. The ARDB 2017, which is Twentieth in the series is an attempt to put together main components/ indicators of such information and comprises of 170 tables organized into 10 sections namely, Natural Resources, Agricultural Inputs, Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Horticulture, Production and Productivity, Agricultural Engineering & Produce Management, Export & Import, India’s Position in World Agriculture, Investment in Agricultural Research & Education and Human Resources under National Agricultural Research System (NARS). Apart from updation of tables, twenty-two new tables have been added, which consist of state-wise data on area and production of 7 food grains including rice, wheat, jowar, bajra, maize, pulses, oilseeds; area and production of 5 fruit crops which are mango, banana, sweet orange, apple and papaya; area and production of 3 vegetable crops which are potato, tomato and onion; production and per capita availability of livestock products like milk, egg and production of meat and wool. For depicting state-wise data, thematic maps were prepared using Geographical Information System (GIS). The first ARDB was brought out in the year 1996. Subsequently, this was updated and brought out in the years 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 (nineteenth edition).

Accomplishments

1. Significant Research Achievements and Impact

The subject of sampling techniques helps in providing the methodology for obtaining precise estimates of parameters of interest. The division is involved in evolving suitable sample survey techniques for estimation of various parameters of interest relating to crops, livestock, fishery, forestry and allied fields.

• Significant contributions have been made in theoretical aspects of sample surveys like successive sampling, systematic sampling, cluster sampling, sampling with varying probabilities, controlled selection, nonsampling errors, analysis of complex surveys, various methods of estimation such as ratio and regression methods of estimation and use of combinatorics in sample surveys.
• The methodology for General Crop Estimation Surveys (GCES), cost of cultivation studies for principal food crops, cash crops and horticultural crops, Integrated Sample Surveys (ISS) for livestock products estimation, fruits and vegetable survey are being adopted throughout the country and many Asian and African countries.
• Methodology based on small area estimation technique for National Agricultural Insurance Scheme, also called RashtriyaKrishiBimaYojana, suggested by IASRI has been pilot tested in the country.
• The sample survey methodology for imported fertilizer quality assessment, estimation of fish catch from marine and inland resources, flower production estimation, area and production of horticultural crops estimation, etc. has been developed and passed on to the user agencies.
• Integrated methodology for estimation of multiple crop area of different crops in North Eastern Hilly Regions using Remote Sensing data has been developed.
• Sampling methodology for estimation of post harvest losses has been successfully adopted in AICRP on Post Harvest Technology for assessment of post harvest losses of crops/commodities.
• Reappraisal of sampling methodologies, evaluation and impact assessment studies like studies to make an assessment of Integrated Area Development programmes, High Yielding Varieties programmes, Dairy Improvement programmes, Evaluation of cotton production estimation methodology etc. have been undertaken. Most of the methodologies developed are being adopted for estimation of respective commodities by the concerned state departments.
• The Institute is regularly publishing the Agricultural Research Data Book since 1996. It contains information pertaining to agricultural research, education and other related aspects compiled from different sources.
• For providing e-advisory and e-learning in sample surveys, initiated a Sample Survey Resources Server (http://js.iasri.res.in/ssrs/) which also provides calculator for sample size determination for population mean and population proportion among other material.

Methodologies developed and implemented:

1. Developed a new sampling methodology for estimation of Cotton production using double sampling approach under stratified two stage sampling framework, which is efficient and very cost effective than the existing methodology in operation. This methodology is operationally more convenient and will reduce the workload of the field staff significantly which in turn will lead to significant reduction in Crop Cutting Experiments. After validation of the developed methodology in two states namely, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, the developed methodology has been implemented in all the Cotton growing states of the country from 2015-2016 by Directorate of Economics and Statistics (DES), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India.
2. Developed a new sampling methodology for estimation of area and production of horticultural crops which is efficient, simple, less time consuming and cost effective. Under this methodology, survey procedures have been simplified and sample size has been reduced significantly than the existing methodology in operation on pilot basis in 11 states till 2013-2014. The developed methodology is being validated in six states of the country namely, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Himacal Pradesh, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh under CHAMAN Project (2014-2017). After validation of the developed methodology, the developed methodology will be implemented in all the states of the country from 2018-2019 by Division of Horticulture, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DACFW), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India.
3. Developed a suitable sampling methodology for estimation of quantitative harvest and post harvest losses of major crops/commodities in India by integrating enquiry and observation based techniques of data collection. This methodology was implemented for conducting a National level survey during 2012-2014 covering 120 selected districts of the country and reliable estimates of percentage loss for 45 crops/commodities at different stages/channels i.e. from production to consumption were obtained.  
4. Developed a suitable methodology for finding out causes of variation between official and trade estimates of Cotton production by evaluating adoption and implementation of existing methodologies. The methodologies were evaluated by conducting a survey in five selected districts in each of the two major Cotton growing states namely, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh for official methodology and survey of two Ginning and Pressing mills in each of the five selected districts in each of the two states for trade methodology during 2008-2009.
5. Developed sampling technique for conducting survey to study the socio-economic impact of agroforestry in Vaishali district of Bihar State. Keeping in view the outcome of the study e. the impact and adoption of agroforestry by farmers, the State Forest Department, Bihar has taken up the idea for replication in the entire State in next five years as mission. Bihar Govt. has launched this mission as Harit Mission.
6. Developed an integrated sampling methodology for multiple crops acreage estimation based on Remote Sensing, GIS and ground survey in North-Eastern Hilly region. The developed sampling methodology for acreage estimation under paddy crop based on remote sensing, GIS and ground survey has been adopted in Meghalaya and Tripura states and is being implemented in all North-Eastern states of the country.
7. Developed sampling methodology for estimating crop area, yield and production under mixed and continuous cropping which was tested and validated in three different countries namely, Indonesia from Asian Region, Rwanda from African Region and Jamaica from Caribbean Region during December 2015-April 2016. The developed sampling methodology is likely to be adopted globally specially in developing countries in future by Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations.
8. Developed a suitable sampling methodology aligned with existing Input Survey for estimation of private food grains stock and post harvest losses at farm level and established the feasibility of inclusion of developed questionnaire in the future Input Survey of Agriculture Census in India in order to estimate the food grains stock including post harvest loss at farm operations which will bridge the gap on post harvest information and private food grains stock in on-farm and off-farm domains of the supply chain.
9. Method of sampling of imported fertilizers from ships/containers being followed as per the prescribed procedure in the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO), Govt. of India was studied and modified method of sampling has been suggested so that the sampling is done with reliability and it is practically feasible also. The modified method of sampling of imported fertilizers from ships/containers is adopted under Fertilizer Control Order (FCO), of India.
10. Foreign Tours:

• Tauqueer Ahmad visited FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy as Expert by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and was invited for Expert Committee meeting on “Improving methods for estimating crop area, yield and production under mixed, repeated and continuous cropping” held at FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy during April 15-16, 2015.
• Tauqueer Ahmad visited FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy as Expert by FAO of the United Nations and was invited for Expert Committee meeting on “Improving methods for estimating post harvest losses” held at FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy during April 16-17, 2015.
• Tauqueer Ahmad visited Indonesia, Rwanda and Jamaica for imparting training to the Master trainers and Enumerators and supervised field data collection namely, under a FAO funded study awarded to ICAR-IASRI.
• Tauqueer Ahmad was invited by FAO of the United Nations for participation in the Validation meeting on “Improving methods for estimating crop area, yield and production under mixed, repeated and continuous cropping” and brief session on “Measuring vegetable production” at FAO headquarters, Rome, Italy during September 7-8, 2016.
• Tauqueer Ahmad was invited by FAO of the United Nations for participation in the Global Strategy Outreach Workshop on Agricultural Statistics andto the Seventh International Conference on Agricultural Statistics (ICAS VII) to be held at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy during October 24-28, 2016 and for presenting a research paper in the session on “Post Harvest Losses” in the FAO organized GS Workshop as Invited Speaker.
• Tauqueer Ahmad presented a paper entitled “Sampling methodology for estimation of harvest and post harvest losses of major crops and commodities” by Tauqueer Ahmad, U.C. Sud, Anil Rai, Prachi Mishra Sahoo, S.N. Jha and R.K. Vishwarma on 25.10.2016 in Global Strategy Outreach Workshop on Agricultural Statistics held at FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy during 24-25 October 2016.
• Tauqueer Ahmad presented a paper entitled “An alternative methodology for estimation of cotton yield using double sampling approach” by U.C. Sud, Tauqueer Ahmad, Anil Rai and Prachi Mishra Sahoo on 26.10.2016 in Seventh International Conference on Agricultural Statistics (ICAS VII) held at FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy during 26-28 October 2016.
• Tauqueer Ahmad was recognized as Expert by FAO of the United Nations Rome, Italy and was invited for Expert Consultation on “SDG 12.3 – Measurement and action to meet the target on reducing food losses and food waste” held at FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy during September 28-29, 2017.
• DrAnkurBiswasand Dr Kaustav Aditya visited National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwandaas a Resource Person to impart training on CAPI software during April 25-30, 2016 under the project “Research on improving methods for estimating crop area, yield and production under mixed, repeated and continuous cropping” funded by FAO of United Nations, Rome. Delivered several lectures on data collection work using CAPI software during 25-30 April, 2016 in the training to the 7 participants. In order to scrutinize the data, visited fields in the Musanze District in Rwanda where the field data collection work under the project was undertaken.
•  DrAnkurBiswasvisited  Jamaica as a Resource Person in order to supervise data collection work during June 13-17, 2016 under the project entitled “Study on improving methods for estimating crop area, yield and production under mixed, repeated and continuous cropping” funded by FAO of United Nations, Rome. To supervise the data collection work, visited fields in all five enumeration areas in the study area of Jamaica viz. Albert Town, Lowe River, Warsop, Comfort Hall and Christiana, where the field data collection work under the project was undertaken by enumerators and supervisors from Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture & Fisheries, Hope Gardens, Kingston 6, Jamaica.

1)    International

2)    National