In a groundbreaking move aimed at transforming Indian agriculture, the Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with state governments, has provided digital IDs to 10 million farmers across 10 states. This initiative, part of the government’s ambitious Digital Agriculture Mission, seeks to create a comprehensive digital registry of farmers linked to their land records.
Empowering Farmers Through Technology
The unique digital IDs, known as Kisan Pehchaan Patra, are designed to include crucial details such as the farmer’s landholdings, crops cultivated, and other relevant information. These IDs aim to streamline access to government schemes, including direct cash benefits, crop insurance, and credit facilities, while enabling better forecasting of crop yields.
“Sanctioning credit and crop insurance using unique IDs will be faster, and the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi benefits can be seamlessly linked to these IDs,” a senior official from the Agriculture Ministry stated. The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM Kisan) currently provides ₹6,000 annually to farmers in three equal installments, and this initiative will further optimize the delivery of such benefits.
States Leading the Charge
The states at the forefront of this initiative include Gujarat (32 lakh IDs), Uttar Pradesh (30 lakh IDs), and Madhya Pradesh (28 lakh IDs). Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Bihar are also actively generating digital IDs for farmers.
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The goal is ambitious: under AgriStack, the government aims to provide digital identities to 110 million farmers by FY27, with an annual rollout plan of 30 million and 20 million IDs in FY26 and FY27, respectively.
Inclusion Amid Diversity
India has approximately 140 million farmers, of whom 35%–40% are engaged in tenancy farming without owning land. Recognizing the challenges faced by tenant farmers, the initiative strives to ensure inclusivity and broaden access to resources. The system leverages advanced technologies such as geospatial data, weather monitoring, and satellite imagery to empower farmers with actionable insights.
Building on Proven Models
The initiative draws inspiration from Karnataka’s FRUITS (Farmer Registration and Unified Beneficiary Information System) software, which integrates Aadhaar-based registration with the state’s Bhoomi land record system. Through FRUITS, farmers in Karnataka can access benefits like PM Kisan incentives, crop support payments, and caste certificate authentication. The success of this model has shaped the broader vision for a national digital agriculture infrastructure.
The Road Ahead
The Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, highlighted the significance of creating a Digital Public Infrastructure for Agriculture in her 2024-25 budget speech. “Details of 6 crore farmers and their lands will be brought into the farmer and land registries,” she announced, emphasizing the government’s commitment to empowering the agricultural community through data-driven governance.
As this initiative gathers momentum, the digital transformation of Indian agriculture stands to bridge long-standing gaps in resource distribution, ensuring that even the smallest farmers can reap the benefits of modern technology. By aligning with schemes such as PM Kisan and leveraging tools like AgriStack, the government is not just building a database but also a stronger, more inclusive foundation for the future of farming in India.
Voices from the Field
For farmers like Rajesh Patel, a smallholder from Madhya Pradesh, the initiative offers hope. “Getting crop insurance or credit was a long and complicated process. If this digital ID makes things easier, it will be a huge relief for farmers like me,” he shared.
This human-centered approach to agriculture underscores the transformative potential of technology in addressing the challenges faced by millions of farmers nationwide.
