Agrobizness un lauki skaitļosPilot project: Farm Register in LatviaJānis Lapiņš, Ilzīte Gramberga, Ligita Ārgale, Valija Grundāne, Uldis Ainārs, Centrālā statistikas pārvalde
04.02.1999 Sākums šodienas lauksaimniecības statistikas pamatam Latvijā - saimniecību reģistram. Reģistra izveidošanas pilotprojekta gala ziņojums. Pieļauju, ka vēsturiski unikāls materiāls. ### Lasāmā formātā pievienots kā PDF fails, un, oriģināla saglabāšanas nolūkā - arī WORD fails Pievienotie dokumenti1. PDF versija2. WORD oriģināls 3. Lauku saimniecību reģistra aptaujas veidlapa PDF
Pilot project: Farm Register in Latvia
Final Report
Riga, 1998
1. Introduction 3 2. Methodology used in Pilot Project 3 3. Preparing of data for pre-printing questionnaires 4 4. Organisation of the field work 8 5. Data verification and data entry 9 6. Structure of Farm register in Pilot Project 9 7. Data analysis 11 8. Legislation problems 29 9. Financial aspects of the Pilot study 30 10. Conclusions and recommendations 30 11. Annex 1. Organisation of the main project “Farm Register in Latvia” 31 12. Annex 2. Timetable for the main project “Farm Register in Latvia” 38 13. Annex 3. Project of Farm register structure 39 14. Annex 4. Description of data files received from the Land Cadaster 42 15. Annex 5. Description of data files received from the Population Register 43 16. Annex 6. Questionnaire “A” 44 17. Annex 7. Questionnaire “B” 46 18. Annex 7. Questionnaire “J” 48
1. Introduction
During The meeting of 3 Baltic and 3 Nordic countries in September 1997 it was found that in Latvia it does not exist any Farm Register as basis for organising agriculture surveys and for production of agriculture statistics. In final conclusions of that meeting it was recommended to consider the possibility to start a joint project of the Central Statistic Bureau in Latvia (CSB) and the Joint Council for Economic Studies in the Food Sector of Sweden (Joint Council) in building up the Farm Register in Latvia. This is why the pre-study and the Pilot-study were carried out to see what the register ought to contain and how it can be constructed in practice.
A pre-study to a Farm Register in Latvia was carried out in the spring 1998. The work was a joint project of CSB and Joint Council, where Sweden contributed with a consult in three month.
One of the results of the pre-study was a project plan for a Pilot-study to be carried out in April - December 1998. The pilot-study started in the middle of April. Merging different registers, creating questionnaires, interviews of the farmers (fieldwork) and data entry of questionnaires was finished in August.
During the whole Pilot project the CSB team closely co-operate with the Joint Council for Economic Studies in the Food Sector of Sweden. The CSB team consists of Janis Lapins (responsible person of the project from the CSB side), Ilzite Gramberga, Ligita Argale, Valija Grundane, and Uldis Ainars. From the Joint Council Per Eklund (responsible person of the project from the Joint Councel side), Per Persson, and Rolf Relander participated in carrying out the Pilot project. Weekly telephone and Email contacts with Mr. Per Eklund, the consultant of Joint Council for Pilot-study, were of great importance for successful realisation of Pilot study. In the description of the main project “Farm Register in Latvia” (Annex 1) we have closely followed the general scheme and recommendations developed by Mr. Per Eklund during Pilot study. The CSB of Latvia would like to express deep gratitude to the Swedish partners for a fruitful co-operation during the Pilot-study.
2. Methodology used in Pilot Project
During the Pilot project two different approaches of building the Farm Register were tested.
2.1. Approach based on the Household Register
The first approach was considered as the main approach and it was used in 6 pagasts. This approach was based on usage of the Land Cadaster Register and Household Register. At first the household register was computerised in two districts (Balvi district and Talsi district where the Pilot study took place). For the Pilot project it was extremely important to have person codes for all members in the household register. Therefore just before the computerisation of the Household Register the pagast administration was asked to add person code for all persons living in the pagast who had not it in the Household Register. Simultaneously other information of the Household Register was updated, too. Using the person code as a key variable the Household Register was merged with the Land Cadaster Register of corresponding pagasts. Thus the new data base was created containing all households having at least one land property/usage in the Land Cadaster Register. Using this data base in questionnaires “A” the information on all household members of age 16 years and over as well as all information on land properties and usage of household members were pre-printed. All land properties and usage of any household member situated outside the pagast he/she is living in were pre-printed, too.
To those persons having land property/usage within at least one of 6 pagasts and living outside these pagasts the questionnaire “B” was send. The person name, person code and information about land properties and usage of such person were pre-printed.
Respondents were asked to check and adjust all the pre-printed information, to add information on all cases of renting and/or renting out a land, to estimate the value of the agricultural production (excluding forest) of the farm/household during the last 12 months, and to select what type of agricultural farm it is (crop production at least 67%, or animal production at least 67%, or garden production at least 67%, or mixed production, or other production). Respondents of questionnaires “B” were asked to give the information on all members of their household of age 16 years and over (names and person codes).
2.2. Approach based on the Land Cadaster Register only
The second approach was applied in 2 pagasts (one pagast in Balvi district and one pagast in Talsi district). This approach was based on usage of the Land Cadaster Register only. It was important to test this approach because it does not require Household Register at all. Thus it can be successfully used in pagasts where for some reason Household Register does not exist or is of pure quality.
According to the second approach to all persons having land property/usage within a pagast the questionnaire “B” was sent. The person name, person code and information about land properties and usage of such person were pre-printed in the questionnaire.
3. Preparing of data for pre-printing questionnaires and pre-printing
3.1. Computerisation of the Household Register
The household register of all households living within one pagast is available at administration of pagast. As a rule this register is in a paper version - a separate sheet for each household. Unfortunately this register does not always contain for each person his/her identification code. Therefore before starting the computerisation of household register administration of pagasts were asked to complete household register. In some pagasts household register was already computerised. Nevertheless its structure usually does not correspond to the demands of Pilot project. For example, sometimes pagast has simply register of persons living in pagast without any identification variable of household allowing identify persons belonging to the same household. In one pagast household register was made as a Word document.
In all cases when it was possible to adapt the computerised version of household register corresponding work was done.
For those pagasts where household register existed only in paper version a special data entry program was prepared. The data entry program of the Household Register was made in Data Base Management System MS ACCESS. The database consists of several tables. There are two main tables - the Household Table and the Person Table.
The structure of the Household Table is as follows: · ID (a unique identification code of a household) · ATK (a code of pagast) · ADDRESS (address of a household) · GROUP (category of a household/farm)
The structure of the Person Table is: · ID (a unique identification code of a household) · NAME (name of person) · SURNAME (surname of person) · PCODE (a unique person identification code) · RELAT (relations to the head of household) · SEX (sex of a person) · BDATE (a birth date of person)
Relations between two main tables are established using the key variable ID.
There were two other tables made - the Territory Table and the Table of Relationship to the head of household. The Territory Table contains information on pagast or town code and the name of this administrative territory. The Relationship Table contains the code of a relationship of person to the head of household and the description of this relationship.
This structure allows to fix a snapshot of situation in pagast but does not allow to trace changes. The data entry program performed the following checks during the data entry process: · wrong person identification code entered in order to reduce the number of typing errors; · wrong relationship to the head of household (two wives/husbands, two mothers, etc.).
The data entry program performed also the following user activated checks: · wrong person identification code (if the person identification code is wrong in the household sheet it is necessary to contact such person); · there is no person identification code in the household sheet; · duplicates of person identification codes (two persons have the same person identification code, the same person is registered in two different pagasts, etc.).
It was find out from the pilot study that on a country level more appropriate is to use the variables ID and ATK as a primary key of the Household data table. It is planned that relations between two main tables will be established using key variables ID and ATK.
At the moment the further improvement of the Household data management program is continued in order to have possibility to trace the changes (births, death, movements, etc.) in household situation.
During the Pilot study the data entry of household register was done in the regional offices of the CSB. The same approach is planned to use during the main project.
3.2. Land Cadaster Register
For carrying out the Pilot project specialists from the Land Cadaster prepared the data files for two districts (Balvi and Talsi district). Since the Land Cadaster is using the DBMS ORACLE data files were received as MS EXCEL files containing all necessary data (see Annex 4). A serious drawback of the received files was the presence of many empty cells for several variables. In most of cases it was necessary to use a value of a previous record for empty cell of a field. Nevertheless, it was not so for all fields. This was the reason why some additional land properties were wrongly pre-printed in questionnaires of some households during the Pilot project. In some cases the area of land was not given in hectares but in square meters, too. The database of the Land Cadaster did not always contain addresses of owners/users.
3.3. Creation of data base for pre-printing
Using the Household register and the Land Cadaster data base a new data base was created for pre-printing of questionnaires. Using the person code in the Person Table of the Household register and person code of the Land Cadaster data base these two data bases were merged and a new data base was obtained. The obtained database together with the Household Table of the Household register was used for pre-printing of questionnaires “A”.
There were cases when the person having a land within one of the six pagasts was not living in the corresponding pagast or was not found in the Household Register. The addresses of such persons as well as all persons having land properties within two pagasts where the second approach was applied were received from the Population Register. The fixed ASCII file containing the information on person name, surname, person identification code, and dummy variable was given to the Population Register. A @ delimited text file containing the initial information as well as the postal address of each person, his/her status (alive, dead, emigrated, etc.), and telephone. A postal address of a person was received also in the case if person is living abroad.
Using the person code in the Population register data file and person code of the Land Cadaster data base these two data bases were merged and a new data base was obtained. The obtained database was used for pre-printing of questionnaires “B”.
3.4. Pre-printing
The special program for pre-printing in MS ACCESS was made for each type of questionnaires (“A” and “B”).
In questionnaires “A” the pre-printed information consisted of · name of the head of household and the postal address of a household; · for each household member of age 16 years and over: (i) the person code, (ii) surname and name; · for each land property/usage of some household member: (iii) status of a parcel (property, joint property, usage), (iv) name and address of land property, (v) total area of land property (all areas in hectares), (vi) area of arable land and garden, (vii) area of pasture and meadow;
In questionnaires “B” the pre-printed information consisted of · name of the owner/user of land parcel and his/her postal address; · in the table containing information about household members: (i) the person code of owner/user of land parcel, (ii) his/her surname and name; · in the table containing information about land properties/usage of household members for each property/usage of the addressee: (iii) status of a parcel (property, joint property, usage), (iv) name and address of land property, (v) total area of land property (all areas in hectares), (vi) area of arable land and garden, (vii) area of pasture and meadow;
The pre-printing was made on HP LASER JET 4V. Two identical copies of each questionnaire were pre-printed. The theoretical speed of a printer is 16 pages per minute. In practice the speed was approximately equal to 10 pages per minute (including paper loading, paper jams, etc.). The total number of pre-printed questionnaires was 6162 in the first wave of Pilot study. It took approximately 3 person days. Such approach was good enough for a Pilot study but for the main project it is necessary to use a more appropriate printing device.
The printing of questionnaires for the Pilot study was made in two series therefore some deviations appeared. Thus small correction was necessary to make in the pre-printing program.
4. Organisation of the field work
Agricultural and environmental statistics section of the CSB managed the pilot project on building the Farm Register and organised training on this matter.
CSB pre-printed information in the questionnaires “A” and “B” (see Section 3) and printed addresses (of corresponding district statistical office) on small envelopes to get back filled in questionnaires. Questionnaires “A” were pre-printed for all households (living in 6 pagasts) where at least one of household members has a land property. Addresses were taken from household register of corresponding pagast computerised before it. Questionnaires “B” were pre-printed for all other persons having land property/usage within one of 8 pagasts where Pilot-study took place. Addresses were taken from the Population Register.
Two copies of questionnaire “A”, a letter signed by the President of the CSB, instructions to fill-in this questionnaire and an empty envelope were put in the envelopes with windows divided among interviewers. Two copies of questionnaire “B”, a letter signed by the President of the CSB, instructions to fill-in this questionnaire and an envelope with a stamp and with the address of the district’s statistical office were put in the envelopes with windows sent by post (from CSB). Exception was those questionnaires “B”, what addressee belongs to one of 8 pagasts or two district centers. These questionnaires were divided among interviewers, too. The design of questionnaire “A” and “B” and pre-printing of address was made in such a way that only address was possible to see in the window of envelope.
Interviews were taken in 8 pagasts and 2 district centers.
Pilot-study by post was realised: · for people who live out of pagasts and district centers; · for people who live abroad. Questionnaires were sent exactly by the CSB.
Interviews were realised by 10 interviewers. District statistical offices had to choose proper employee and to organise instruction how to realise this fieldwork. District statistical offices of the CSB involved in this work employees from local administration, employees from Land Cadastre centers or organisations from the Agriculture Ministry who knew local circumstances and who had been got faithfulness of local people.
Employees of District statistical offices entered labour contracts with persons involved in this fieldwork. There were entered labour contracts regarding interviews, data checking and recommitment to employees of District statistical offices. In case of need explanation work was done for people how to fill-in these questionnaires.
Supervision and managing in districts was organised by employees of District statistical offices who were responsible for process of interviews in pagasts. Employees of District statistical offices received filled in questionnaires by post. CSB received weekly information on the process of building the Farm Register. Data analysis and sending of reminding letters was done by the CSB for the first time on 17 July but for the second time on 31 July. New printed questionnaire, a letter and an envelope with address of District statistical office were put in these reminding letters. New questionnaires for those who did not respond to the both reminding letters were printed out on 20 August and given to pagasts to receive information on land.
Data input for the Farm Register was done in District statistical offices of the CSB and than data was sent to the CSB. CSB realised logical control to confirm rented land area with land area leased.
During the next step questionnaires were sent to the local administration in pagasts and to legal persons who has agricultural land in disposition. CSB received answers and at present information is in the stage of processing.
5. Data verification and data entry
Data entry program of household register is described in section 3.1.
Data entry program of questionnaires “A” and “B” contained some data checks: · if the sum of area of arable land, garden, pasture and meadow does not exceed the total area of land · if the rented out total area of arable land and garden does not exceed the total area of arable land and garden · if the rented out total area of pasture and meadow does not exceed the total area of pasture and meadow · if the entered person identification code is correct one.
Data entry program ensures correct moves from field to field according to the values of entered variables. Data entry program was searching the code of administrative territory when the name of territory was partially entered. The data entry program for two questionnaires “A” and “B” were similar. The only difference was that two extra fields (“village” and “postal code”) were used for questionnaire “B”.
6. structure of Farm register in Pilot Project
During the Pilot project the farm register was represented by the following tables (“bold” variables are used as a key variable):
1. Holding (household) table · ATK - code of the administrative territory · NR - identification code of holding within whole administrative district · ADR - address of holding · MGR - group of holding · VERT - group of economic value of production · VEIDS - type of production · KDAT - the date of last updating In order to prepare pre-printing of “B” questionnaires two extra variables were used: · CIEMS - village · PIND - postal code
2. Person table · NR - identification code of holding within whole administrative district · VARDS - name of person · UZV - surname of person · PKODS - a unique person identification code
3. Table of land parcels (properties/usage’s) · NR - identification code of holding within whole administrative district · ATK - code of the administrative territory that land parcel belongs to · IKL - ownership status of land parcel (property/joint property/usage) · KOP - total size of land parcel · AR - area of arable land and garden · PG - area of pasture and meadow · ADR - address of land parcel · IPKODS - person identification code of owner/user · FJN - status of renter (physical/juridical person) · NAR - size of rented arable land and garden (here and below for each renter) · NPG - size of rented pasture and meadow · JKODS - registration code of juridical renter · JNOS - name of juridical renter · FPKODS - person identification code of physical renter · FVARDS - name of physical renter · FUZV - surname of physical renter · FATK - code of the administrative territory of renter · NADR - address of renter
4. Table of land parcels rented from others · NR - identification code of holding within whole administrative district · NATK - code of the pagast that rented land parcel belongs to · NNOS - name of rented land parcel · NPLAT - total size of rented land · NARD - area of rented arable land and garden · NPG - area of rented pasture and meadow · IFJ - a status of owner (physical/juridical person) · ADR - address of rented land parcel · IJURN - registration code of juridical owner · IJNOS - name of juridical owner · IPKODS - person identification code of owner · IVARDS - name of physical owner · IUZV - surname of physical owner · IATK - code of the administrative territory of owner · IADR - address of owner
7. Data analysis
The information on total number of questionnaires “A” and “B” as well as total number of remainders distributed among interviewers and sent via post is given in the Table 1.
Table 1 Distribution of questionnaires and remainders
An additional study was made for those cases where Questionnaires “B” were not received back at 15 of August. These questionnaires were pre-printed again and sent to the administration of corresponding pagast. Altogether 110 such Questionnaires “B” were send to pagast administration in Balvi district and 47 Questionnaires “B” were send to pagast administration in Talsi district. As a result in Balvi district the information on questions about owner/user of land included in questionnaires “B” was received back in a written form from pagast administration in 100% cases. In Talsi district only in 4 cases pagast administration could not give the information on the owner/user of land.
The dynamic of responses during the Pilot-study is shown in the Table 2.
table 2 Dynamic of responses during the pilot-study
1) Questionnaires collected by interviewer 2) Questionnaires received via post
The different types of errors as well as their frequencies discovered during the Pilot-study in the Household Register, Population Register and Land Cadaster Register are summarised in the Tables 3-5. table 3 Person data error in Household Register, number of cases (only for persons of age 16 years and over pre-printed in Questionnaires “A”)
table 4 Person data error in population Register, number of cases (only for persons of age 16 years and over pre-printed in Questionnaires “B”)
table 5 error in land cadaster, number of cases (only for land properties/usage pre-printed in Questionnaires “A” and “B”)
In the Table 6 data on land area of 8 pagasts collected during the Pilot study is compared with the corresponding published data of Land Cadaster as well as with data calculated from the data base received from Land Cadaster at the beginning of Pilot study. In the row “Physical persons” the total area of land properties/usage of physical persons plus the total area of land rented from other persons or from pagast minus total area of land rented out to other physical/juridical persons is shown. In the row “Juridical persons” the total area of land properties/usage of juridical persons plus the total area of land rented from other persons or from pagast is shown. In the Pilot study there was no one case of renting out the land property/usage of juridical person to other physical/juridical persons. In the row “State land and Pagast land” the total area of land parcels that are administrated by Pagast minus total area of land rented out to physical/juridical persons is shown.
Altogether there are 10 juridical persons having land properties/usage in 4 pagasts of Balvi district and only 3 juridical persons having land properties/usage in 4 pagasts of Talsi district. Besides in Talsi district there are 5 juridical persons that have not their own land properties/usage but are cultivating land rented from physical persons. There were only few cases of renting out land properties/usage of physical persons in Balvi district. At the same time there are large areas of Pagast land that is not rented and cultivated by any physical/juridical person.
table 6 comparing of land balance in pilot-study data with land cadaster data, in hectares
table 6 (continued)
In the Tables 7-9 the distribution of the number of land properties/ usage by residence territory of owner/user is summarised. Land properties/ usage outside 8 pagast where the Pilot-study took place belonging to the surveyed households are included, too.
table 7 distribution of land properties/ usage by territory of owner (only for physical persons surveyed during pilot study)
Tables 8-9 show areas of agricultural land (including cases where land does not belong to 8 pagasts) that are rented out or rented by households surveyed during Pilot project.
table 8 area of rented out agricultural land by territory of land, in hectares (only for physical persons surveyed during pilot study)
table 9 area of rented land by territory of land, in hectares (only for physical persons surveyed during pilot study)
Table 10 contains the information on households having land area of at least 1 hectare that do not have agricultural land.
table 10 distribution of households having not agricultural land by territory of household, number of cases (only for physical persons surveyed during pilot study)
In the Tables 11-13 distribution of area of land properties and usage by the territory of residence of owner/user is presented. Those cases where land does not belong to 8 pagasts are also included. table 11 distribution of areas of land joint properties/properties/usage by the residence territory of household, in hectares (only for physical persons surveyed during pilot study)
table 12 distribution of areas of land properties by the residence territory of household, in hectares (only for physical persons surveyed during pilot study)
table 13 distribution of areas of land usage by the residence territory of household, in hectares (only for physical persons surveyed during pilot study)
In the Tables 14-15 distribution of area of land properties and usage by the territory of residence of owner/user is presented. Those cases where land does not belong to 8 pagasts are not included.
table 14 distribution of areas of land properties within 4 pagasts by the residence territory of owner, in hectares (for physical persons surveyed during pilot study)
table 15 distribution of areas of land usage within 4 pagasts by territory of user, in hectares (for physical persons surveyed during pilot study)
During the Pilot-study the identification of cases of renting a land property/usage and renting out of the same land property/usage was not always reached. Sometimes respondents did not declare cases of renting or renting out a land property. Sometimes the information on such case given by respondent was not enough to identify the land property. The information on these cases is summarised in Tables 16-17.
table 16 cases where Renters of rented out land properties/usage were not found during pilot study (for physical persons surveyed during pilot study)
table 17 cases of rented land properties/usage where persons Renting out them were not found during pilot study (for physical persons surveyed during pilot study)
Table 18 shows the cases where respondents deleted some of pre-printed records on land properties/usage as well as added some new records on land properties/usage. Table 19 summarises those cases where respondents updated the information on the size of their land properties/usage.
table 18 adding of new records and deleting of pre-printed records, in hectare (for physical persons surveyed during pilot study)
1) Sold properties not included.
table 19 Corrections in pre-printed records, in hectare (for physical persons surveyed during pilot study)
table 20 State and Pagast land rented to physical persons, in hectare (information received from the pagast administration)
The distribution of farms (juridical persons not included) by the value of agricultural production and by the type of agricultural production is given in Tables 21-22.
table 21 Distribution of farms by the value of agricultural production and territory (for physical persons surveyed during pilot study)
table 22 Distribution of farms by the type of agricultural production and territory (for physical persons surveyed during pilot study)
8. Legislation problems
The legality aspects of the Farm register project at the moment are reflected in the following laws and regulation of the Cabinet of Ministers.
Law on State Statistics
On November 6, 1997, the Saeima (Parliament) of the Republic of Latvia adopted the Law on State Statistics. The Law lays down that in compliance to the demand of the Central Statistical Bureau respondents shall submit individual statistical data on economic, demographic and social phenomena and processes pertaining to their economic activity. The Law lays down that the respondent is a natural or legal person. On the basis on this Law and for the purpose of register building, information is collected from the population about the composition of their households and land; information was also drawn from the registration cards at the disposal of pagast authorities and from the register of the Land Cadastre Centre.
Confidentiality of data
The Law on State Statistics lays down that confidential data that were collected for statistical purposes shall be used only for statistical purposes such as data aggregation, grouping and the analysis of social and economic developments and processes; the obtained statistical data shall not be published or divulged in such a way that would allow to either directly or indirectly identify a natural or legal person. A draft Law on the Protection of Data on Natural Persons has been submitted for review to the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia. This draft law lays down the principles of data collection and processing as well as the rights of data providers and the functions of the State Data Inspectorate.
Regulation of the Cabinet of Ministers on Agricultural Census
This Regulation was adopted on January 21, 1997. It refers to the preparatory work for the Census including also the farm register.
9. Financial aspects of the Pilot study
Pilot project expenses are summarised in the table below. Some reduction in costs per one farm can be expected in the main project because there will be no need to use post services for those addressee who have a land in one pagast but live in another one. The information from such persons it will be possible to receive in pagast where the person is living.
10. Conclusions and recommendations
The Pilot-study showed that it would be feasible to build up a farm register in Latvia on the basis of each of the two approaches tested during the pilot study. Preference should be given to the approach based on the use of household register since this approach is less labour consuming and allows to obtain more precise data on households.
The Pilot survey also demonstrated that involving interviewers for data collection is a more efficient way than data collection by mail. The questionnaires collected by interviewers had a high degree of completion and accuracy of data. In contrast, questionnaires received by post were not always completely filled-in as a result of which a repeated contact with the respondent was needed. Since charges for post and telephone services in Latvia are relatively high, sending reminders by mail or by telephone substantially increases project expenditures.
Janis Lapins Ilzite Gramberga
Annex 1.
Organisation of the main project “Farm Register in Latvia”
Introduction:
In Latvia there do no exist a Register over the agriculture holdings or farmers to be used as base in an agriculture statistical system, a system which also pays attention to future support program to the farmers. A pre-study and pilot-study has been carried out to see what the register ought to contain and how it in practice can be constructed. Present project plan pays attention to the conclusions made in the pre-study and the pilot-study for a Farm Register.
Orderer: The main project ”New Agriculture Statistical System in Latvia” (NASS).
Project leader: Ligita Argale/Janis Lapins
Consult: Twinning partner
Project name: Farm Register in Latvia
Project goal:
The project shall create a computerised register over all agriculture holdings in Latvia. The Register shall mainly be used for statistical purposes. Both stratification and sampling shall be possible to do out from the register. The register ought also to be performed so that it can be used also for support to the farmers in future.
Definitions:
· Agriculture Holding
Agriculture holding is a single unit both technically and economically, which has a single management and the output of which are agricultural products.
Single management means that there is a single management even though two or more persons acting jointly carry this out.
Single unit both technically and economically indicates a common use of labour and means of production.
For Latvia it means that the starting point for an Agriculture Holding is that the holding is the same as the household. This has been confirmed in the pilot-study for household living in the rural area. The household do also cultivate the area where there are living. Usually the holding is prosecuted without any co-operation with or help from another household. The condition occurs irrespective if the main income is coming from the farming or not. In case where co-operation occurs, the co-operation usually concerns the use of technical equipment. If the co-operation concerning livestock’s, the ownership of the animal is specified. The economic accounts of households are always separated.
In the case the owner of the land is not living in the rural area, the land is rented out or cultivated at distance. In case when the land is rented out the owner do not have agriculture holding, he/she is a landlord and usually not a farmer. The renter is considered as a farmer with an agriculture holding. If the renter is not already a household having own agriculture land and therefore already counted as holding he/she have to be included in the farm Register. In case the owner of the land cultivates the land at distance, the household shall be created for the owner as a distance household. All other members in the household shall be registered at the same rules as for household living inside the Pagast. This is valid only for information necessary for the Farm Register.
It occurs that juridical persons own or cultivate agriculture. In the 8 Pagast (of 514) which were included in the pilot-study, there exist 7 juridical persons that owned land. It is possible that it also occur some juridical persons that cultivate a farm without being an owner of agriculture land. They can exist but they are rare. Nearly all of the juridical persons having agricultural production are statutory companies.
The state and the Pagast own some land (around 30 %), but in they do not cultivate the land. They are landlords who rent out land. In no case the state or the Pagast shall be considered as a farm.
The rule about household, that one person can only be a member of one household at the time is of significant importance when the register over agriculture holdings will be built up. That means also that one single person can only belong to one holding. This is valid when the holding is one or more physical persons. Concerning juridical persons there will be juridical units that are holdings. Owners of the juridical persons can never be a holding, as long as they do not run a holding as private farm and in the name of the household. It can also occur that one single person is owner of more than one juridical person.
As long as a holding (physical or juridical) do not grow such big that it will have different working units with own management and own economic account, the definition about agriculture holding in the structure census and in IACS will coincide. In IACS as well as in the structure surveys it is the holder who cultivates the land that is of interest.
Holder is the person who is legally or economically responsible for the holding. The holder of the holding is that person in whose name the holding is operated. The holder can own the holding outright or rent it or be a hereditary long-term leaseholder or a trustee.
The holder may delegate all or part of power to a manager. If within one holding two or more natural persons carry out the functions of the holder only one of them is shown as such (e.g. the one who bears the greatest share of the risk or who takes the main part in managing the holding. If such criteria still fail to pick out one individual the choice should be based on some other criterion, such as age). In case of share farming the share farmer is shown as holder.
In reality there can be more than one holder of a holding, but one of them must be pointed out as the main holder (the head). The head of the holding will then been asked for in the structure census. It is with the head of the holding all communication will be carried out in different surveys. For example, in Sweden there can be up to three holders in the register, but only one head of the holding (main holder).
In normal cases the head of the household is also the holder or main holder.
Geographical situation of the holding
Today there is no relevant administrative subdivision of areas according to the agriculture use in Latvia. Latvia is divided into 26 districts and and 7 large cities. The districts are than divided into smaller cities (around 60) and in the rural area into Pagasts. Latvia contains of 514 Pagast with a mean size of 120 km². The division into Pagast is historical and made for administrative use. For agriculture use another subdivision of Latvia maybe should have been more relevant. Today there does not exist any other subdivision. When there does not exist any relevant subdivision for agriculture purposes, the division into Pagast will be the most suitable today for agriculture use.
In the structure census it is important to know where the headquarters of the holding is situated. For Latvia headquarters of the holding means, where the most important buildings are situated. If there do not exist any buildings at the holding, the holding shall be counted to that Pagast where most of the agriculture areas are situated.
Population:
Demarcation of the population must be done from the expected use of the register. Today we can see two main usage of the register: for agriculture statistics and for support to the farmers. In the structure surveys all holdings do not need to be included. The demand from Eurostat are that holdings kept outside the structure surveys may not represent more than 1,0 % of the total agriculture production value in Latvia. As a practical limit EU has set 1,0 hectare.
To use the Register for support to the Farmers, it will be important to include all farms that can be eligible for direct aid (area payment). In IACS there is a limit of 0,3 hectare for area aid. In national programs the limit can be of 0,1 hectare. Therefore it is desirable that the farm register contains all holdings of 0,1 hectare or more, even if the demand for statistical uses are higher.
The conclusion is that the Register needs to contain all farms that cultivates at least 0,1 hectare. It is important to cover all farms when the register is constructed. They can at this time easily be detected. Nevertheless if the budget for building up the farm register does not allow to cover all farms that cultivates at least 0,1 hectare this threshold must be increased. In the future other considerations can be made.
Parameters in the register
Two important aspects what the farm register shall contain are · The register shall contain information that is necessary for the use of the register. Normally a register shall contain some basic information like · identification · name and addresses · relevant variables for stratification as size of farm, economic variables as SGM, type of production, region the farm belongs to and perhaps also the number of animals. · A register shall not contain information that easily can be retrieved from other register. A condition is that the demand on the information actualisation, quality and content can be fulfilled.
A Register in Latvia need information about
· Administrative information about the holding · unique identification code of the holding. An identification code shall follow the holding over the years and shall not contain other information than identification. · information about where the holding is situated (in what region defined at the lowest level). For Latvia it will be Pagast where the main buildings are situated. For the moment Pagast will be the most suitable regional division for agricultural holdings in Latvia. If a holding is situated in more than one Pagast, only one Pagast shall be chosen. The Pagast that will be chosen is the Pagast where the main building is situated. In the future there can be changes in the regional division.
· Administrative information about the holder. It will be possible to register more than one holder of a farm, but only one will be the main holder. · person code of the holder · name of the holder · address to the holder · telephone to the holder · relation to the head of the holding
· Area under own management, for each property · identification of the property · status of the property as property, usage etc. · owned, leased or leased out · agriculture land under own management · arable land under own management · grassland under own management · the Pagast where the property is situated, if the identification of the property does not contain such information
· Other information needed for stratification · type of production · economic values of the production · type and number of animals
Information about type of production, value of production and number of animals is information that will be updated from the structure census.
Realisation:
Below the realisation plan of the project is described step by step. For each step there is stated what is necessary to do. The timetable follows and tells when each step has to be finished. Before the realisation of the project, a more detailed timetable for each step will be prepared.
Step 1: Computerising of the household register
· updating the person-codes in the household registers · control of addresses · grouping the pagast into three groups: 1. pagast where register contains person-codes of all household members; 2. pagast where register contains person-codes but not for all persons; 3. pagast where information about person-codes do not exist or are defective
Different approaches depending on which group pagast belongs to can be used.
Step 2: Processing the information from the Cadaster Register
· receiving a copy of the register from January 1999 · merging information from the Cadaster Register with information from the Household Register · receiving the information on persons of non matching properties from the Population Register concerning · dead persons · addresses The file with non-matching information shall contain all properties in the Cadaster Register where the owner does not belong to the Household Register · for all persons living in a Pagast, where the Household Register does not exist · for persons that live in a Pagast, but where the identification failed · for persons that do not live in the rural area
Step 3: Creating questionnaires
Creation of two types A and B of questionnaires, one for those where information about Household exist and one for those where information about household do not exist
Step 4: Printing and pre-printing of questionnaires
· Printing questionnaire A and B · Pre-printing information in questionnaire A in the middle of February · Updating the file for questionnaire B concerning dead persons and addresses (1st of April) · Pre-printing questionnaire B in the middle of April
Step 5: Collecting information, questionnaire A
· Collecting information using questionnaire A with help from the Pagast administration during March - May (in connection with the land tax-collection) · Interviewer work in June-July
Step 6: Collecting information, questionnaire B
· sending out questionnaires in the end of April · First reminder in the end of May · Second reminder in the middle of June · Interviewer work for non-respondents in July
Step 7: Registration of incoming questionnaires
· Develop of data programmes · Incoming registration · List of non-respondent
Step 8: Registration of data from the questionnaires
· Develop of data programmes · Entering data from the questionnaires
Step 9: Control and matching of information
· Data processing, control and matching of the entered data from the questionnaires including quality control · Completing of information that is incorrect or missing
Step 10: Lay down the Register, volume 1999
· Lay down the version of the register that will be the official version to work with in 2000
Annex 2.
timetable for the main project “Farm Register in Latvia”
Annex 3.
Project of Farm register structure
On the bases of Pilot study the representation of the Farm register by following tables can be recommended (“bold” variables will be used as a primary key variable):
1. Holding (household) table · ATK - code of the administrative territory · NR - identification code of holding within administrative territory · ADR - address of holding · CIEMS - village · MGR - group of holding · VERT - group of economic value of production · VEIDS - type of production · TEL - contact telephone · PAS - postal code · KADR - contact address (if it differs from registration address) · IDAT - date of entry · KDAT - the date of last updating · PIEZ - remarks
2. Persons table · ATK - code of the administrative territory · NR - identification code of holding within administrative territory · PNR - index number of a person within holding · VARDS - name of person · UZV - surname of person · RADN - relationship to the head of household (head of holding) · DZIM - sex · PKODS - a unique person identification code · DZDAT - birth date of person · IDAT - date of entry · KDAT - the date of last updating
3. Table of land parcels (properties/usage’s) · ATK - code of the administrative territory · NR - identification code of holding within administrative territory · ZNR - index number of a land parcel within holding · KADNR - Land Cadaster code of a land parcel · IPKODS - person identification code of owner/user · ADR - address of land parcel · KOP - total size of land parcel · ARAM - area of arable land 1) · DARZI - area of garden 1) · GAN - area of pasture 2) · PLAVAS - area of meadow 2) · DAT - date of updating · PAZ - indicator of updating · PIEZ - remarks 1) instead of two variables ARAM and DARZI one variable (total area of arable land and garden) can be used 2) instead of two variables GAN and PLAVAS one variable (total area of pasture and meadow) can be used
4. Table of land parcels rented to other persons · ATK - code of the administrative territory · NR - identification code of holding within administrative territory · ZNR - index number of a land parcel within holding · KADNR - Land Cadaster code of a land parcel · IPKODS - person identification code of owner/user · ZNOS - name of land parcel · ADR - address of land parcel · KOP - total size of rented land (for each renter) · ARAM - area of rented arable land 1) (for each renter) · DARZI - area of rented garden 1) (for each renter) · GAN - area of rented pasture 2) (for each renter) · PLAVAS - area of rented meadow 2) (for each renter) · NFJ - a status of renter (physical/juridical) · NPKODS - person identification code of physical renter · NVARDS - name of physical renter · NUZV - surname of physical renter · NJNOS - name of juridical renter · NJKODS - registration code of juridical renter · NATK - code of the administrative territory of renter · NADR - address of renter · NTEL - contact telephone of renter · DAT - date of updating · PAZ - indicator of updating · PIEZ - remarks 1), 2) - see comments to Table of land parcels.
5. Table of land parcels rented from others · ATK - code of the administrative territory · NR - identification code of holding within administrative territory · KADNR - Land Cadaster code of land parcel · ZNOS - name of land parcel · ADR - address of land parcel · KOP - total area of rented land (for each case of renting) · ARAM - area of rented arable land 1) · DARZI - area of rented garden 1) · GAN - area of rented pasture 2) · PLAVAS - area of rented meadow 2) · IFJ - a status of owner (physical/juridical) · IPKODS - person identification code of physical owner · IVARDS - name of physical owner · IUZV - surname of physical owner · IJNOS - name of juridical owner · IJKODS - registration code of juridical owner · IATK - code of the administrative territory of owner · IADR - address of owner · DAT - date of updating · PAZ - indicator of updating · PIEZ - remarks 1), 2) - see comments to Table of land parcels.
Annex 4.
Description of data files received from the Land Cadaster
The data file from the Land Cadaster was received as a MICROSOFT EXCEL for WINDOWS 95 file. An example of its content is given below.
Annex 5.
Description of data files received from the Population Register
In order to have updated addresses of persons whom the “B” questionnaire was planned to send a @ delimited text file was received from the Population Register. This file contained the following information:
Annex 6. Questionna ire “A”
Annex 7. Questionnaire “B”
Annex 8. Questionnaire “J”
Annex 9. Questionnaire “P”
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