The Census of Agriculture is conducted every 5 years, in the years ending in 2 and 7, in collaboration with the Agricultural Extension Service of the University of Puerto Rico. The three main groups of tables presented in this report are: 1) Puerto Rico: Tables 1 to 21 provide statistics on the information collected for all farms. Most of the information presented in these tables is accompanied by historical data from the 2002 census. 2) Municipalities: Tables 22 to 76 provide detailed statistics by municipality. 3) Summary: Tables 77 to 82 show more detailed information about farms or the characteristics of the farmer. The information in these tables is classified by the farmer's tenure, type of organization, primary occupation and age of the farmer, size of the farm, market value of the agricultural products sold, and the type of farm. Inventories of animals, birds, machinery, equipment, buildings, facilities and the number of families of aggregates or sharecroppers reflect the quantities existing at the end of the year. Information on crops, sales of crops and animals, and on income, production expenses, employees, irrigation, total rope and tenure refer to the calendar year. Conducting the Census of Agriculture is a requirement under the “Agriculture Census Act of 1997,” Public Law 105-113 (Title 7, United States Code, Section 2204g).
1) Main statistical source on agricultural production in Puerto Rico and the only source of comparable and consistent information at the municipality level.
2) Develop agricultural programs, analyze historical trends, study current conditions and plan for the future.
3) Estimate the losses caused to agriculture by natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, droughts, pests and epidemics.
4) Establish a more efficient production and distribution system for the agricultural community.