The Indian government has approved a substantial investment of Rs 2,817 crore for the Digital Agriculture Mission, aiming to revolutionise the farm sector through advanced digital infrastructure. Announced by the Union Cabinet under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this initiative is part of the agriculture ministry’s agenda for the first 100 days of Modi 3.0.
The mission seeks to build a robust digital framework, including AgriStack, which will provide farmers with unique digital identities and comprehensive agricultural data systems.
The Digital Agriculture Mission is a transformative project designed to modernise India’s agricultural landscape. A significant portion of the allocated funds, Rs 1,940 crore, will be provided by the Centre. The mission, which was initially scheduled to launch in the fiscal year 2021-22 but was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, is now set to be rolled out nationally over the next two years. It aims to implement three key projects: AgriStack, Krishi Decision Support System, and soil profile mapping.
AgriStack will create a unified digital identity for farmers, akin to Aadhaar, linking essential data such as land records, livestock ownership, and crop details. This initiative will also involve the establishment of a crop sown registry and geo-referenced village maps. Additionally, the Krishi Decision Support System will provide a comprehensive geospatial framework integrating data on crops, soil, weather, and water resources. Detailed soil profile maps will be developed, covering approximately 142 million hectares of agricultural land, with ongoing efforts to complete soil profiling for 29 million hectares. The Digital General Crop Estimation Survey will offer scientifically based yield estimates, enhancing accuracy in agricultural production forecasts.
The approval of the Rs 2,817-crore Digital Agriculture Mission marks a significant step towards modernising India’s agricultural sector. By leveraging digital technologies and creating a comprehensive agricultural data infrastructure, the initiative is expected to enhance productivity and provide better support to farmers. As the mission progresses, it will play a crucial role in transforming the agricultural landscape, making it more efficient and data-driven. The successful implementation of these digital tools promises to bring about a new era of agricultural management in India.
