QUEZON CITY (PIA)-- The Philippine Statistics Authority is set to roll out the Census of Agriculture and Fisheries (CAF) nationwide through the assistance of modern technologies including artificial intelligence.
National Statistician and Civil Registrar General Undersecretary Claire Dennis Mapa said during the 2022 CAF Press Launch held on August 30 that the current census entails a comprehensive household and barangay level data collection process to empower the agricultural and fisheries sectors.
“Mandated by the Philippine Statistical Act 2023, the 2022 Census of Agriculture and Fisheries is more than a mere counting and profiling exercise of our agricultural farm and fisheries operations. It is an exploration into the heart of our rural and rural communities where the hard work of our farmers and fishers intersects with the aspirations of our nation,” Undersecretary Mapa said.
The undersecretary also said that the initiative’s success depends on the methodologies.
“The data that we will gather through the CAF will be used by our policy makers, researchers and stakeholders to make decisions that can lead to more sustainable practices equitable distribution of resources and policies that prioritize the improvement of agricultural and fishery processes as well as the wellbeing of those who feed our nation,” he added.
The 2022 CAF enumeration started last September 4, and will gather information from stakeholders nationwide until October 25 regarding agricultural and fisheries data from the period of January to December 2022.
Data collection is conducted through computer aided, personal and telephone interviews as well as self-administered questionnaires focused on crop farming, livestock, poultry, aquaculture, and fishing operations.
PSA aims to gradually release 2022 CAF results in the first quarter of 2024.
Regional data gathering & AI utilization
In the regions, PSA officials highlighted that the 2022 CAF integrates the use of modern technology as Assistant National Statistician Minerva Eloisa P. Esquivias put emphasis on the importance of artificial intelligence during the recent national press launch.
In Western Visayas, PSA VI OIC Regional Director Nelida Amolar stated that the 2022 CAF will be the first time AI technology will be used to ensure the data’s accuracy and validity.
“The incorporation of AI allows the PSA to validate census results by cross-referencing data provided by respondents, ensuring data integrity and reliability,” Amolar said during the recent Western Visayas regional press launch last September 1.
In Region 10, PSA OIC Regional Director Janith Aves stated during the local press launch that PSA and the Department of Science and Technology - Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI) had earlier inked an agreement for the implementation of the Artificial Intelligence for Census of Agriculture and Fisheries (AI4CAF) Project.
“This is a joint project that covers object detection, mapping, and crop area estimation of selected major crops and aquafarms in the country using the remote sensing artificial intelligence and earth observation data,” OIC RD Aves said.
She added that detecting and estimating areas for crop farms and aquafarms for development of statistical frames for agricultural and aquaculture surveys will be made easier through the use of AI. (GG/PIA with reports from PSA/PIA-6/PIA-10)
