Union Cabinet approves Rs 2817 crore Digital Agriculture Mission

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the Digital Agriculture Mission with a Rs. 2817 crore budget, including a central share of Rs. 1940 crore. The mission aims to transform agriculture through technology, improving efficiency and service delivery for farmers across India.

This initiative will support various digital agriculture efforts, including creating Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), implementing the Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES), and advancing IT projects across central and state governments, as well as academic institutions. 

India’s recent digital advancements in governance, payments, and services have positioned the country as a leader in digital solutions. Now, the government seeks to extend this transformation to agriculture. The Union Budgets of 2023-24 and 2024-25 highlighted the development of DPI for agriculture to provide farmers with comprehensive, authenticated data, such as demographic details, land holdings, crop details, and access to various digital services. 

This data will connect to state and central government digital infrastructure, offering insights into livestock, fisheries, soil health, and more. The goal is to enhance farmer-centric digital services and solutions, aligning with the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision.

The mission includes three major DPIs: AgriStack, Krishi Decision Support System, and Soil Profile Mapping. AgriStack will offer digital IDs for farmers which will be a trusted ‘Kisan ki Pehchaan’, linking them to the State’s land records, livestock ownership, crops sown, demographic details, family details, schemes and benefits availed etc.  Digital Crop Surveys will track crops, ensuring accurate data collection. So far, 19 states have signed MoUs with the Ministry of Agriculture, and pilot tests have been conducted in six states, including Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. The goal is to create digital IDs for 11 crore farmers by 2027.

The Krishi Decision Support System will integrate geospatial data to aid decision-making, such as weather monitoring and yield assessments. Soil Profile Mapping will generate detailed maps of agricultural land, with 29 million hectares already completed. 

The Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES) will provide accurate yield estimates, improving crop production data. These initiatives are expected to create around 2.5 lakh jobs in the agriculture sector through digital surveys and data collection.

These digital initiatives are expected to create direct and indirect employment, especially for local youth and Krishi Sakhis. The mission will also streamline services, reducing the need for paperwork and physical visits. Farmers will be able to authenticate themselves digitally to access government schemes, crop loans, and personalized advisories in real-time.

The reliable data will enhance the efficiency and transparency of government schemes, such as paperless MSP procurement, crop insurance, and credit card-linked loans. Additionally, digital crop data and remote-sensing information will assist in accurate production estimates, crop diversification, and irrigation planning.

The Krishi Decision Support System will aid in generating crop maps, monitoring environmental conditions, and assessing yields for insurance claims. The DPI for Agriculture will improve value chains, post-harvest processes, and advisory services, ensuring farmers receive timely and effective guidance on crop planning, health, pest management, and irrigation. The Digital Agriculture Mission will drive innovation in Indian agriculture, boosting productivity and sustainability.