Abstract

The 2020 Hungarian agricultural census brought several methodological innovations. In the recent decades, the form of backyard farming and its role in the production of agricultural products has changed fundamentally in Hungary. The previous data collection system was based on house-to-house survey and used one of the lowest thresholds in the EU. For the 2020 census, the Hungarian Central Statistical Office introduced a data collection system with a completely new methodology. The following main changes were implemented: modified farm thresholds; new Farm Register with an intensive use of administrative registers and improved accuracy of geocoding/geolocation of farms.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many of our plans. Sudden interventions were necessary in view of the former epidemiological measures. Many uncertainty factors had to be considered and decisions made in order to carry out the agricultural census guaranteeing data quality. Hungarian practice shows that this important data collection was carried out in compliance with the epidemiological regulations and resulted good quality data on the structure of agriculture. The paper presents experiences and lessons learned related to the organisation of the 2020 agricultural census in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic.