Union Cabinet Approves Rs 2,817 Crore Digital Agriculture Mission

The Union Cabinet, led by PM Modi, sanctioned the Digital Agriculture Mission with a fund of Rs 2,817 crore. This initiative aims to revolutionize the agriculture sector by establishing digital infrastructure and comprehensive farmer data systems, leading to innovative and efficient farming practices.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the Digital Agriculture Mission with a significant outlay of Rs 2,817 crore. This initiative, which includes a central share of Rs 1,940 crore, aims to support various digital agriculture schemes. Key initiatives include creating Digital Public Infrastructure, the Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES), and other IT projects by central and state governments, as well as academic and research institutions.

In a bid to transform the agriculture sector, the government announced the establishment of Digital Public Infrastructure for agriculture in the Union Budget 2023-24. The subsequent Budget for 2024-25 continues to build on this initiative. The Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) seeks to provide comprehensive data on farmers, including demographic details, land holdings, and crops sown.

The DPI will encompass data on cultivators and tenant farmers, aligning with state policies. An official statement highlighted that this data will also link to other relevant Digital Public Infrastructures to compile information on livestock, fisheries, soil health, and more. This will lead to innovative digital services for farmers. The DPI for Agriculture is a key component of the Digital Agriculture Mission, aligning with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.

The Mission will establish three DPIs: Agristack, Krishi Decision Support System, and Soil Profile Mapping. Agristack focuses on creating a farmer-centric DPI to streamline services and schemes for farmers. It will feature three foundational databases: the Farmers' Registry, Geo-referenced village maps, and the Crop Sown Registry, all maintained by state governments.

Farmers will receive a digital identity known as 'Farmer ID,' linked to state land records, livestock ownership, crops sown, and other relevant demographics and schemes. Crop data will be updated each season through mobile-based digital surveys. So far, 19 states have signed MoUs with the Ministry of Agriculture to implement this DPI.

The Krishi Decision Support System will develop a geospatial system integrating remote sensing data on crops, soil, weather, and water resources. The Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES) will provide yield estimates through scientifically designed crop-cutting experiments, ensuring accurate agricultural production estimates.

(With inputs from agencies.)