The Croatian Bureau of Statistics will release interim results by 30 November 2020, while the final results of the census should be released by 31 December 2021.
The census will involve 3,000 enumerators, controllers, coordinators and the state will secure HRK 34 million (EUR 4.6 million) for that task.
The census will record farms with more than 0.4 of cultivated hectares and at least 0.1 hectares of orchards, vineyards or olive groves. It does not include private vegetable gardens of less than 100 square metres.
Details of family farms will be collected personally whereas commercial farms will register their details online.
State-Secretary in the Agriculture Ministry Marija Vuckovic explained that agricultural censuses have been taken in the European Union since 1966 and in general are conducted every ten years.
It is good that we compile an inventory of the situation and what we have and what is lacking MP Josip Krizanic (HDZ) said adding that the results should help in being included in the EU's Common Agriculture Policy.
It is good that we know what we have, MP Miro Bulj (Bridge) added but we are not using the potential we have sufficiently. Fields are not irrigated and crops are stricken by drought, he warned.
It's good that that data will be comparable at the EU level and can be used to prepare strategic documents, MP Bozica Makar (HNS) said.
MP Alen Prelec (SDP) hopes that the information obtained will help erase "murky dealings," in agriculture.
It is essential that census-takers are well trained and that a media campaign informs the public of the census, MP Anka Mrak Taritas (GLAS) said.