Azerbaijan goes digital: accelerating agricultural census methods through FAO support

Source:  FAO

Agriculture is inherently exposed to a wide range of risks, from natural disasters to market volatility. As sustainability becomes an increasingly pressing concern, agricultural surveys play a vital role in revealing trends in farming practices, land use, and resource management. Azerbaijan is preparing for its next comprehensive agricultural census, scheduled for from 15 July to 15 August 2025, and with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The country is embracing digital technologies to enhance the efficiency and quality of this critical exercise.

At the request of the Government of Azerbaijan, FAO, in collaboration with the State Statistical Committee (SSC), is implementing a Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) project aimed at strengthening national capacities to develop a robust methodology for conducting a digital agricultural census. The data collected will provide a comprehensive snapshot of the country’s agricultural landscape—including the size of holdings, land tenure and use, sown areas, irrigation practices, livestock, labour, and other farming inputs.

Recognizing agriculture as a key sector for economic diversification, Azerbaijan views the census as a cornerstone for evidence-based policymaking, research, and environmental monitoring. All agricultural holdings—including legal entities, individual entrepreneurs, family farmers, and households—will be included in the data collection.

Unlike the previous censuses in 2005 and 2015, which relied on traditional paper-based methods and took nearly two years to complete, the 2025 census will be the first in Azerbaijan to use Computer-Assisted Personal Interviews (CAPI) and Computer-Assisted Web Interviews (CAWI). This shift reflects SSC’s commitment to improving both the quality and timeliness of agricultural data.

To support this transition, a four-day technical training on microdata anonymization and Tabular-Data Disclosure Control was held in Baku from 10 to 13 June 2025. The training targeted experts of the State Statistical Committee working with microdata and tabular data and addressed growing concerns around data privacy in the context of increasing demand for detailed tables and microdata access. Participants were introduced to advanced Statistical Disclosure Control (SDC) techniques and open-source tools such as sdcMicro and τ-ARGUS. These methods are essential for protecting data confidentiality while enabling secure and efficient dissemination of information.

This training marks a crucial step in preparing for Azerbaijan’s first digital agricultural census. As the demand for granular data grows among researchers and policymakers, so does the need to safeguard respondent privacy. Statistical Disclosure Control, as both a discipline and a set of anonymization techniques, helps strike the right balance between transparency and confidentiality–ensuring that data can be shared without compromising individual identities.

One of the key components of the FAO project is the integration of SDC practices with both microdata (individual-level data) and tabulated (aggregated) data. This will significantly enhance the State Statistical Committee’s capacity to manage and disseminate census data securely and responsibly.

With FAO’s technical support and expertise, Azerbaijan is taking decisive steps to modernize its agricultural data systems–ensuring that the 2025 Agricultural Census is not only more efficient, but also more impactful, secure, and aligned with international best practices.

Discover more about аgri market developments at the 11 International Conference BLACK SEA OIL TRADE on September 23 in Bucharest! Join agribusiness professionals from 25+ countries for a powerful start of the oilseed season!

Tags: , , , ,

Got additional questions?
We will be happy to assist!