Prime Minister launches censuses    Fish processing at a factory. The PM has launched the National Survey Programme, which includes a national census on agriculture, forestry and fisheries (Source: VNA) Hanoi - Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has launched the National Statistical Survey Programme, which consists of three national survey censuses and 11 statistical surveys. The three national censuses are the National Population and Housing Census, the National Rural and Agricultural Census and the National Economic Census. The population and housing census collects data on population, social labour and housing. The purpose is to conduct research and analysis of the population scale, distribution and growth rate as well as the sources of labour and housing. The census takes place on April 1 once every 10 years. The rural and agricultural census collects basic data on rural areas, agriculture, forestry and fisheries for conducting research and analysis of the scale and distribution of rural and agricultural labour. It also collects data on land scale and agricultural production conditions, evaluates the progress of some national agricultural programmes and goals and builds a database on rural areas, agriculture and fisheries for survey samplings and international comparison. The agricultural census takes place on July 1 once every 10 years, in years that are multiples of five. The economic census collects basic data on the number of economic facilities, number and quality of labour working at the facilities and the results of management policies and human resources development projects. Four of the 11 statistical surveys are on land, population, labour and employment. Two others survey National Accounts, State budget, finance and currency. The five remaining surveys also collect data on agriculture, forestry and fisheries but on a smaller scale. They conduct mid-term rural and agricultural investigation and investigations on cultivation areas, yields of short-term and long-term crops and cattle breeding.-VNA