Centre to Develop Aadhaar-Like Digital IDs for 11 Crore Farmers by FY27
In a major initiative to strengthen the agriculture sector, the Indian government plans to create digital identities for 11 crore farmers by FY27. These digital IDs, similar to Aadhaar, are part of the 'AgriStack' project, a farmer-focused Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) aimed at streamlining services and government schemes for farmers.
A key component of AgriStack is the 'Farmer ID,' which will serve as a verified digital identity for farmers. It will be linked to essential information such as land records, livestock ownership, crops grown, and benefits received. The government has set a phased rollout, with plans to create 6 crore digital IDs by FY 2024-25, followed by 3 crore in FY 2025-26, and 2 crore by FY 2026-27. These IDs will be managed by state governments and union territories.
Furthermore, the government is preparing to launch a 'Digital Crop Survey' nationwide. This survey will cover 400 districts in FY 2024-25, and expand to all districts by FY 2025-26, providing vital data to improve agricultural services.
The Ministry of Agriculture highlighted the transformative impact of the digital revolution on governance and service delivery in India. The creation of digital identities, secure payments, and transactions has reshaped sectors such as finance, healthcare, education, and retail, making India a global leader in citizen-focused digital solutions.
To replicate this transformation in agriculture, the Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the ‘Digital Agriculture Mission’ with a budget of Rs 2,817 crore, including Rs 1,940 crore from the central government. This mission is anchored by two key components AgriStack and the Krishi Decision Support System and aims to provide farmers with timely, accurate information.
The rollout of AgriStack is already underway, with 19 states signing memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with the Ministry of Agriculture to accelerate the implementation of digital services for farmers.