CITY OF SAN FERNANDO --- The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) yesterday disclosed that it will use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Computer-Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) in the Census of Agriculture and Fisheries (CAF) across the country from September 4 to October 25.
This is first census in the country to use AI and CAPI in gathering data from the target population (households and barangays).
PSA said the cutting-edge approach will not only ensure accuracy but also expedite the processing of results paving the way for quicker access to crucial data.
Target respondents for households include operators of crops, livestock, poultry, insects/worms culturing, aquaculture, or fishing activity while respondents for barangays cover incumbent village officials.
The PSA collaborated with the Advanced Science and Technology Institute of the Department of Science and Technology.
The project covers object detection, mapping, and count or area estimation of selected major crops and aquafarms in the country using remote sensing, AI, and earth observation data.
The agency noted that the use of remote sensing data coupled with AI algorithms is highly beneficial as it facilitates the identification of areas for census saturation, and improvement of the accuracy of AI models in detecting crop and aqua farms.
Inputs will be used in the development of statistical frames for agriculture and aquaculture surveys.
In case of a technical problem or connectivity issue wherein the use of AI and CAPI will not be possible, the PSA said
enumerators may still conduct the census using the Paper-and-Pen Interview, telephone interview or self-administered questionnaire.
A total of 1,200 enumerators, 244 team supervisors, 85 census area supervisors, and 85 assistant census area supervisors will be deployed in Central Luzon for the conduct of the survey.