Digital Agriculture Mission: Preparation for Agricultural Revolution like Aadhaar and UPI

Recently, the Union Cabinet of the Modi government has made seven significant decisions in mission mode, approving an investment of INR 14,000 crore for the agriculture sector. The most notable of these decisions is the development of agriculture-based digital public infrastructure designed to benefit farmers. This initiative will include the introduction of a Farmer ID and will focus on areas such as research and innovation, climate resilience, natural resource management, and digitization of the agriculture sector. Additionally, there will be special support for livestock and horticulture.

Agriculture contributes 15 percent to the national GDP of India, yet 65 percent of the population remains directly or indirectly involved in the sector. A primary concern for the government is the significant impact of climate change on agriculture. Therefore, the Modi government’s recent decisions aim to equip farmers with the tools and knowledge necessary for climate resilience. As climate change emerges as a global challenge, and with climate emergencies increasingly affecting various regions in India, it is crucial to develop strategies for farmers to protect their crops from sudden weather changes, such as unexpected rainfall or temperature fluctuations. By implementing these schemes, the government aims to provide more accurate and effective support to every farmer.

 Seven New Schemes of Krishi Kalyan:

1. Digital Agriculture Mission: An allocation of INR 2817 crore has been made for this initiative. Its goal is to enhance farmers’ lives by leveraging digital technology to streamline agricultural processes and provide better access to information.
2. Crop Science for Food and Nutritional Security: With a budget of INR 3979 crore, this scheme aims to advance agricultural science and ensure food security. It focuses on improving crop science to address nutritional needs and enhance food production.
3. Agricultural Education and Management: This initiative has been allocated INR 2300 crore to bolster agricultural education and management practices. It seeks to strengthen both agricultural education and the social sciences related to agriculture.
4. Sustainable Livestock Health and Production: A fund of INR 1702 crore has been designated for this scheme, which targets the improvement of livestock health and the quality of livestock products. The goal is to promote sustainable practices in livestock production.
5. Sustainable Development of Horticulture: With an allocation of INR 860 crore, this scheme aims to bring comprehensive advancements to the horticulture sector. It focuses on sustainable practices and development to enhance horticultural output.
6. Strengthening Krishi Vigyan Kendras: INR 1202 crore will be invested in enhancing Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), which are crucial for providing farmers with scientific knowledge and technological support.
7. Natural Resource Management: A sum of INR 1115 crore has been allocated for this plan, focusing on the sustainable management of natural resources to support agricultural productivity and environmental conservation.

Digital Agriculture Mission:

A key highlight of the Digital Agriculture Mission is the creation of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for the agriculture sector. This digital framework aims to provide a range of facilities to farmers through technology. Each farmer will be issued a unique Farmer ID, similar to the Aadhaar system, which will include detailed information about their land, crops, and applicable schemes. This comprehensive data system will be implemented nationwide, with a plan to complete the rollout in the coming years.

A total of INR 2817 crore will be allocated to the Digital Agriculture Mission. The central government will fund INR 1940 crore, with the remaining amount contributed by the states and union territories. The primary goal of this initiative is to ensure that all farmers benefit from the digital public infrastructure being established. The scheme is set to be implemented nationwide by 2025-26. This infrastructure aims to enhance both the productivity and decision-making capabilities of farmers.

The government had initially planned to launch the Digital Agriculture Mission in 2021-22, but the implementation was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in the budget for 2023-24 and 2024-25, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the re-launch of the mission. It has now been resolved to implement this initiative at the national level in collaboration with the states.

The mission is centered on a key component known as Agri Stack, which is divided into three primary parts:

1. Farmer Registry:

Every farmer will be provided with a unique digital identity, known as the Kisan ID, similar to Aadhaar. This ID will include detailed information such as the farmer’s land holdings, livestock, crops grown, and government schemes availed. A pilot project has been initiated in six districts, including Farrukhabad (Uttar Pradesh) and Gandhinagar (Gujarat). The government aims to create digital IDs for 6 crore farmers by 2024-25 and to expand this number to 11 crore by 2026-27. A budget of INR 5000 crore has been allocated for this purpose by the Modi government.

2. Crop Sowing Registry:

This component will conduct mobile-based surveys each season to compile a comprehensive database of crops sown by farmers. The pilot project has been executed in 11 states. The target is to cover 400 districts within the next two years, with nationwide implementation planned by 2025-26.

3. Geo-referenced Rural Maps:

This initiative aims to integrate geographical data with physical locations, providing accurate information about farmers’ land and its status. This will help in creating precise rural maps that link land data with geographic coordinates, enhancing land management and resource allocation.

The Digital Agriculture Mission is expected to revolutionize agricultural practices by improving data accuracy, enhancing productivity, and enabling more informed decision-making for farmers across India.

Agricultural Decision Support System

The Modi Government is set to establish the Agricultural Decision Support System, which will integrate a sophisticated geographical accuracy framework to meticulously collect data on land records, crop information, soil conditions, weather patterns, and water resources. The primary aim of this system is to enable the government to acquire comprehensive information about crops nationwide and assess damage caused by natural disasters. This will also facilitate farmers in obtaining insurance claims.

Under the Soil Profile Map initiative, a thorough survey of soil quality across the country will be conducted. The main objective is to evaluate the soil’s potential and identify ways to enhance its productivity. Currently, a survey is underway for 142 million hectares of agricultural land, with 29 million hectares already surveyed.

Another crucial component of this mission is the Digital General Crop Estimation Survey, designed to estimate the total grain production across the country. This will provide the government with precise data, enabling the formulation of well-informed policies and plans.

The Digital Agriculture Mission is poised to revolutionize the agriculture sector. This initiative will digitally secure the identity of farmers, along with detailed information about their crops, land, and other relevant data. By implementing this mission, the productivity and income of farmers are expected to rise significantly. Additionally, it will empower farmers to better navigate the challenges posed by climate change and other obstacles.

 Government’s Effective Steps on Climate Change-Resilient Agriculture

The Modi government is proactively preparing Indian agriculture to tackle the impacts of climate change for the next century while addressing immediate agricultural needs. The National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) is a key project by the Government of India aimed at enhancing agricultural resilience to climate change. NICRA operates through four main components: research, technical demonstration, capacity building, and competitive sponsored research.

NICRA utilizes simulations to model local climate changes over extended periods, assessing how well agricultural systems can adapt to these changes. The simulations are divided into three time periods:

1. Near Century – Examines changes expected in the 2030s.
2. Mid-Century – Focuses on climate shifts anticipated in the 2050s.
3. End Century – Considers potential changes into the 2100s.

These simulations help evaluate how variations in climate will impact crop yields and agricultural practices, guiding interventions based on technological advancements and traditional agricultural methods.

So far, approximately 650 agricultural districts in India have been evaluated using 33 parameters to assess their risk profiles, which have been ranked from highest to lowest risk. These parameters include road connectivity, credit facilities, irrigation infrastructure, local climate, and the socio-economic status of farmers. Additionally, climate forecasts for the coming decades are reviewed to refine these risk assessments.

It has been determined that 310 districts are at high risk of adverse effects due to climate change. In response, a pilot technology demonstration project is being conducted in 151 villages across these high-risk districts. This initiative aims to test and showcase various technological interventions to address the identified risks effectively.

Need for Enhanced Coordination between Centre and States

Agriculture in India is a state subject, while institutions like ICAR are centrally funded. Although these central institutions focus on research and technology development, the implementation of these technologies falls under the purview of state governments. ICAR and NICRA can propose technologies, but scaling them up and integrating them into state-level practices is the responsibility of the states. The central role of ICAR and NICRA is limited to partial monitoring, primarily conducted through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs).

India’s recognition of the need to address climate change came relatively late. Nonetheless, progress is being made to tackle these crucial issues. The central government’s National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) is actively working to promote beneficial technologies and strategies to enhance agricultural resilience. Enhanced coordination between the Centre and the states is essential to ensure the effective implementation of these technologies and achieve sustainable agricultural development.

However, India still needs to significantly increase its efforts to match the R&D investment levels of agriculture-dominated developing countries such as Brazil and China. Additionally, greater collaboration between the central and state governments is essential to effectively implement climate-resilient agricultural practices. It is crucial to strike a balance in policymaking, addressing both short-term and long-term goals. This requires comprehensive engagement with all states and agricultural institutions to ensure that policies are well-informed, inclusive, and effectively executed.