Comprehensive application of technology in the 2025 Rural and Agricultural Census

However, a major challenge from the very first day of the campaign was the change of administrative boundaries in many localities, leading to disruption in the management of the investigation area. This directly affected the assignment and supervision of the investigation force, as well as the operation of the General Census management software system.

To clarify the scale, objectives and initial difficulties of this General Census, CAND Newspaper reporter had an interview with Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong - Director of the General Statistics Office, Ministry of Finance .

Comprehensive application of technology in the 2025 Rural and Agricultural Census -0 — Director of General Statistics Office Nguyen Thi Huong.

Reporter: The rural and agricultural census is one of the most important censuses of the Statistics sector. Could you please elaborate on the meaning and importance of this census?

Director Nguyen Thi Huong: The 2025 Rural and Agricultural Census is of special importance in providing complete information on the current status of agricultural, forestry and fishery production; the rural socio- economic situation; and the rural labor structure.

The Census was conducted with the following main purposes: Firstly, to compile relevant statistical indicators belonging to the National Statistical Indicator System; to compile socio-economic indicators to serve the assessment of the current situation, analysis of changing trends, development of plans and strategies for rural development, the agricultural and rural development sector, and improvement of the living standards of rural residents nationwide as well as in each locality;

Second, to serve research to assess the scale and structure of rural labor and NLTS labor; changes in rural infrastructure; the implementation status of some contents of national programs and targets in the rural and NLTS sectors; to serve international comparisons of rural and NLTS sector indicators;

Third, build a database on rural areas and NLTS to serve in-depth research; serve as a sampling frame for a number of annual periodic surveys on the NLTS sector and meet other statistical requirements.

PV: In your opinion, what is new about the 2025 Census compared to 10 years ago? How has the Statistics sector prepared for this Census?

Director Nguyen Thi Huong: The 2025 Rural and Agricultural Census has 6 new points compared to previous Rural and Agricultural Censuses, specifically:

The information of the 2025 Census has increased compared to 2016 to better meet the information needs of the Party, National Assembly, Government, Ministries, and localities on the current situation of agriculture, farmers, rural areas, and the restructuring of the agro-forestry and fisheries sector and the structure of rural labor. Many detailed information has been added, such as: - Complete household questionnaire: some detailed information has been added on Cultivation (ornamental plants; net houses, greenhouses; tree nurseries); Aquaculture forms and farming methods (intensive, semi-intensive, extensive, improved extensive); Digital economy in agro-forestry and fisheries; Agricultural services; and Income from agro-forestry and fisheries activities. Information on crops and livestock of households is asked based on reality instead of only collecting information on some main crops and livestock as was done before.

Sample household form: added new information on sustainable development indicators (SDG 2.4.1. Percentage of land for sustainable and efficient agricultural production) to serve the assessment of Vietnam's commitment to implementing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. - Farm form: Ask about all crops, livestock, etc. of the farm instead of just asking about some main products as before; Add more questions to assess the efficiency of farm production activities. - Add enterprise, cooperative, and cooperative union forms in the 2025 Rural and Agricultural Census plan to ensure the full scope of the census.

Changes in the method of conducting the household survey unit list help to collect complete information and save costs at the same time. The farm list is supplemented with information collection to ensure the connection between household and farm forms to help clean, process data and analyze survey results.

Maximize the exploitation of existing administrative and survey data to minimize field collection to improve the efficiency of the census.

Changes in the form of information collection using electronic survey forms (CAPI and Webform) and online data management methods to control the progress and quality of the survey during the information collection process at the local level; enhance accountability and centralized data management, and decentralized exploitation and use.

Applying IT in checking, cleaning and completing data. Including: Applying machine learning to check and complete the industry code of households based on the industry; using positioning and digital maps in some stages of the 2025 Census.

Research on sampling methods to meet information requirements: With the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), two types of survey samples were developed to serve the generalization of SDG indicators and specialized indicators on NLTS, both to meet information objectives and to improve the effectiveness of information collection.

To prepare for a large-scale and important Census such as the 2025 Rural and Agricultural Census. Since 2023, the General Statistics Office (now the General Statistics Office) has planned, developed a plan and prepared to conduct a pilot survey as a basis for developing an official Census plan.

In 2024, a pilot survey was conducted, and all output indicator needs were reviewed, which was used as a basis for submitting to the Prime Minister for approval of the General Census in 2025. Also in 2024, the General Statistics Office researched and designed 7 types of survey forms to serve the work of collecting information, developing documents and procedures to guide the implementation of the General Census; Developing application software programs to serve the work of collecting information, processing, cleaning and synthesizing survey results.

From the beginning of 2025 to present, continue to perfect application software, prepare and organize professional and information technology training courses at all levels: central, provincial and district to equip knowledge about professional skills and software for the entire team of investigators, supervisors, Steering Committees and Standing Teams at all levels from central to local towards collecting the most complete and accurate information to compile and synthesize relevant statistical indicators to serve the leadership, direction and administration of the Party, government and local authorities at all levels.

Reporter: With the strong trend of digital transformation, how does the Statistics sector apply technology in the Census?

Director Nguyen Thi Huong: In recent years, the General Statistics Office has strongly applied information technology to improve the quality and efficiency of statistical surveys. By 2025, over 90% of the total number of surveys will use electronic survey forms on mobile devices (CAPI) or online (Webform) and apply information technology in all stages: Managing the survey network, managing statistical surveyors, managing supervisors, assigning tasks, collecting information, monitoring, processing, cleaning, storing and publishing results...

Promoting the results achieved in the past time, in the 2025 Rural and Agricultural Census, the General Statistics Office has researched and applied machine learning technology to support the inspection and review of economic sector codes, applied AI to support information collection, used GPS positioning of the survey unit in the operation management, supervision of the survey implementation and dissemination of results, and applied the method of collecting information by direct and indirect interviews:

Direct interview: The investigator visits each household participating in NLTS activities/farm to collect information and record all answers on an electronic survey form designed on a smart mobile device.

Indirect information collection: Applicable to investigation units of Commune People's Committees, Enterprises, and Cooperatives participating in NLTS activities.

The software system for managing, monitoring, collecting and processing survey results is implemented by the IT engineers of the Statistics Department. The application for direct information collection is installed on the smart mobile device (using Android or iOS operating system) of the investigator.

The management, supervision and processing of survey data is carried out through a website, ensuring synchronization and consistency from central to local levels. The survey software is designed, built and deployed on the Internet environment, applied to all stages: creating lists, managing the survey network, assigning investigators and supervisors, collecting information, monitoring the survey and cleaning data, exploiting results, etc.

The General Statistics Office has prepared forces to support investigators and supervisors at all levels throughout the investigation process, especially supporting the use of mobile devices and troubleshooting during information collection nationwide.

The survey results will be disseminated in the form of aggregated data, visual images (infographics, videos, etc.) in charts and on geographic space, meeting the diverse needs of information users.

The General Statistics Office has prepared an information technology infrastructure capable of managing and operating software systems and data administration from central to local levels to ensure 24/7 smooth operations; ensuring safety, information security, and network security.

Up to now, all preparations have been completed, creating the best conditions for the successful organization of the 2025 Rural and Agricultural Census.

Reporter: In the context of arranging administrative boundaries and implementing the 2-level local government model, what difficulties and problems does the General Census encounter, madam?

Director Nguyen Thi Huong: The 2025 Rural and Agricultural Census takes place in the context of the country entering a period of transformation, implementing administrative boundary arrangements, implementing a 2-level local government model and streamlining the administrative apparatus. In that context, when implementing the 2025 Rural and Agricultural Census, there are also some difficulties and obstacles:

The change of administrative boundaries and the streamlining of the apparatus aim to perfect the Steering Committee for the 2025 Rural and Agricultural Census at all levels. There are frequent changes in leadership at administrative levels, so the consolidation of the Steering Committee has been taking place continuously from December 2024 to present.

The frequent changes in the personnel of the Steering Committees at all levels more or less affect the continuity in directing the implementation of the 2025 Rural and Agricultural Census.

The forces participating in monitoring and implementation at the district and commune levels have a big change between the preparation and actual implementation stages when the 2025 Rural and Agricultural Census takes place. Because the Census takes place on July 1, 2025, coinciding with the time when the 34 new provincial and municipal governments begin operating, which is the time of transition between the old 63 provinces and cities and the 34 new provinces; the end of the operation of district-level administrative units, so the implementation work always requires continuous supervision by the Steering Committee and Standing Teams at all levels; especially the standing agency implementing the Census.

Changes in administrative boundaries lead to changes in the management of survey areas, affecting the management of survey participants by the statistics sector on the Census management software system.

I think that the requirement for rural census data to serve the compilation of data according to the scope of 34 new provinces and new communes requires the rural census to update and collect information to serve the calculation of indicators according to new administrative units; at the same time, the software needs to be updated to manage the survey units and forces participating in the rural census according to new administrative boundaries.

Reporter: So, what solutions and recommendations does the Statistics sector have to overcome those difficulties, madam?

Director Nguyen Thi Huong: Facing challenges and difficulties when conducting the General Census in the context of the country implementing the arrangement of administrative boundaries, organizing local authorities at 2 levels and arranging administrative units. The statistics sector has solutions and recommendations to overcome these difficulties. At the same time, advise the Central Steering Committee to guide the completion of the Steering Committee immediately after changes in the organizational structure and administrative management at the local level to ensure that the preparation work for the General Census, one of the most important stages of statistical investigation, is not interrupted and does not affect the quality of information; ensure information collection meets the objectives of the General Census and ensure the provision of information to serve the 2-level authorities in the direction and leadership at the local level.

Advise the Central Steering Committee to direct and guide additional information collection in the Rural and Agricultural Census to meet the synthesis of Census results according to new administrative units, especially according to new communes.

The General Statistics Office will update the management information collection system according to the new administrative units. Complete the division of areas to serve the official survey implementation by July 1, 2025 in accordance with the provisions of the survey plan.

The 2025 Rural and Agricultural Census has thoroughly applied advanced technology to all stages of the Census. Built an automatic chatbox response system to support investigators, supervisors and forces participating in the Census. Built a hotline system to promptly answer questions and support investigators and supervisors.

Along with that, the Central Steering Committee's staff directs and guides the Steering Committees for the General Census of Rural and Agricultural Areas at all levels in the locality, after completing the urgent implementation of the General Census in the locality in accordance with the prescribed General Census of Rural and Agricultural Areas plan, ensuring the progress and quality of the collected data.

The 2025 Rural and Agricultural Census will be conducted nationwide from July 1 to July 30, 2025. With careful preparation and close coordination between all levels, sectors and people, the survey is expected to provide the most comprehensive, objective and accurate picture of Vietnam's rural and agricultural areas - the foundation for policy making and sustainable development in the new period.

PV: Thank you very much, Director!

Thanh Hoa conducts survey in 4,663 areas and nearly 700,000 households
Mr. Thai Ba Minh, Head of Thanh Hoa Provincial Statistics Office.
Mr. Thai Ba Minh, Head of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Statistics Office, said that in the 2025 Rural and Agricultural Census, Thanh Hoa province was chosen as the location to hold the national launching ceremony. Thanh Hoa is a province with a large natural area (11,115 km2), a large population (DSTB 2024: 3,764,235 people), an abundant labor force, and a large number of workers in the agriculture and forestry sector (768.5 thousand workers).
Therefore, the scale of the 2025 Census of Thanh Hoa province is very large, specifically: Commune questionnaires are implemented in 452 communes (old) and 31 towns; there are 4,663 survey areas with a total household survey questionnaire of 690 thousand households (1,005 sample questionnaires on crop cultivation, 1,800 sample questionnaires on agriculture and forestry); 967 farms; 1,261 enterprises and 712 cooperatives producing agriculture and forestry.
Up to now, Thanh Hoa province has carefully prepared for the 2025 Census. From the consolidation of the provincial Steering Committee and the Provincial Information Center; The arrangement of the 2-level local government, the district-level Steering Committee also ended its activities from July 1, and a new commune-level Steering Committee (166 communes/wards) was established, starting its activities from July 1. The work of selecting forces to participate in the survey, training, and propaganda work has been carried out in accordance with the 2025 Census Plan.
However, in the context of streamlining the apparatus at all levels and implementing a 2-level local government, the preparation work also has certain difficulties. Especially when the old commune Steering Committee (including commune statistical officers) are transferred to other jobs or retire, the selection of enumerators faces many difficulties.
In that context, with the participation of the entire political system and the close direction of the Steering Committees at all levels (the Steering Committees at the district level still operated effectively until June 30), those difficulties have been overcome. I believe that with the participation of all levels and sectors, the active participation of the investigation force and the unanimous support of the people, the 2025 Rural and Agricultural Census will achieve good results.