Ahemadabad: In a significant stride towards modernizing agriculture, Gujarat has become the first state in India to generate Farmer IDs for 25% of its targeted farmers, marking a significant achievement under the Digital Agriculture Mission. This initiative, launched as part of the Agri Stack program by the Government of India, reinforces its commitment to creating a robust digital public infrastructure (DPI) for agriculture.
 

The Farmer ID, a unique digital identity linked to Aadhaar, is dynamically connected to state land records. This ensures real-time updates reflecting any changes in a farmer's landholding details. By integrating crop data and streamlining processes, this innovation is set to revolutionize agricultural practices and policy-making. Key benefits include seamless access to government schemes, rapid approval of paperless crop loans, tailored agricultural advisory services, direct benefit transfers, enhanced market connectivity, and improved financial inclusion for farmers.
 

The initiative, part of a larger vision to transform agriculture into a data-driven sector, aims not only to bolster farmers' incomes but also to foster sustainable practices and deliver farmer-centric solutions. Gujarat’s achievement highlights effective inter-departmental collaboration, particularly between its Revenue and Agriculture departments, supported by administrative reforms and process innovations.
 

The Government of India has introduced a multi-mode strategy to facilitate the widespread generation of Farmer IDs across states. Farmers can register independently via mobile applications, seek assistance through trained field workers, participate in dedicated registration camps, or use Common Service Centres (CSCs). The Centre has also provided states with technical guidelines, training, computing resources, and financial incentives to support this ambitious undertaking.
 

States like Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Rajasthan are also progressing towards their targets. Madhya Pradesh has achieved 9% of its goal in a short span, while Maharashtra stands at 2%.
 

As Gujarat sets an inspiring benchmark, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare continues to focus on its mission to support states in scaling up the Digital Agriculture Mission. The vision is clear: to create a comprehensive digital ecosystem that empowers farmers, ensures efficient service delivery, and paves the way for a resilient and sustainable agricultural future. 

BI Bureau