Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare approved the Digital Agriculture Mission in September 2024 to address the unavailability of real-time agricultural data and discrepancies in interdepartmental data. This mission aims to create a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for Agriculture to enhance data integration and transparency. The government is also promoting micro-irrigation and water-sensitive practices through the Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) scheme to address declining groundwater levels.
Key Points / Main Content:
Digital Agriculture Mission:
* Creation of a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for Agriculture, including AgriStack, Krishi Decision Support System (KDSS), and a Soil Fertility Profile Map.
* AgriStack DPI comprises Geo-Referenced Village Maps, Crop Sown Registry, and the Farmers Registry, maintained by State Governments/Union Territories.
* Farmer Registry provides data on farmers' demographics, land holdings, and crops sown for accessing benefits and services.
* Digital Crop Survey (DCS) System provides real-time crop area information.
* KrishiDSS integrates geospatial and non-geospatial data for evidence-based decision-making and innovative solutions.
* Nationwide Soil Resource Mapping project by the Soil and Land Use Survey of India (SLUSI) to inventory soils at a village level.
Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) Scheme:
* Implemented since 2015-16 to enhance water use efficiency through micro-irrigation (drip and sprinkler systems).
* Financial assistance provided for installing drip and sprinkler systems: 55% for small and marginal farmers and 45% for other farmers.
* Assistance for micro-irrigation systems is limited to 5 hectares per beneficiary.
Impact Analysis:
Farmers:
* Impact: Access to reliable crop-related information, digital identification for accessing benefits, and financial assistance for micro-irrigation.
* Action Required: Register in the Farmers Registry to access benefits and consider adopting micro-irrigation systems.
State Governments/Union Territories:
* Impact: Responsible for creating and maintaining Geo-Referenced Village Maps, Crop Sown Registry, and the Farmers Registry.
* Action Required: Develop and maintain the foundational registries for AgriStack DPI and provide top-up subsidies for micro-irrigation.
Research Institutions and Agritech Industry:
* Impact: Access to KrishiDSS data to develop innovative solutions for the agriculture sector.
* Action Required: Utilize KrishiDSS data for research and development of agricultural technologies.
Soil and Land Use Survey of India (SLUSI):
* Impact: Responsible for conducting a nationwide Soil Resource Mapping project.
* Action Required: Inventory soils at a village level and create standardized soil maps.
Key Entities Referenced
Digital Agriculture Mission: A Government of India initiative approved in September 2024, focused on creating a digital ecosystem for agriculture.
AgriStack: A Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) component under the Digital Agriculture Mission, comprising foundational registries or databases related to agriculture.
Krishi Decision Support System KDSS: A Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) component under the Digital Agriculture Mission, which integrates and standardizes geospatial and nongeospatial data to support evidence-based decision-making.
Soil Fertility Profile Map: A comprehensive map to enable a robust digital agriculture ecosystem.
Digital Crop Survey DCS System: A system providing accurate, real-time crop area information for every agricultural plot.
Soil and Land Use Survey of India SLUSI: An organization initiating a nationwide Soil Resource Mapping project at a village level.
Per Drop More Crop PDMC: A Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented by the Department of Agriculture Farmers Welfare (DAFW) from 2015-16, focusing on enhancing water use efficiency through micro-irrigation.
SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR: The Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
O.I.H.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3802
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12TH AUGUST, 2025
DIGITAL AGRICULTURE MISSION
3802. SHRI ANIL FIROJIYA:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण म(cid:287)ं ी
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the unavailability of real-time data related to agriculture sector or
discrepancies in inter-departmental data create obstacles in policy formulation and
implementation of targeted schemes;
(b) if so, the specific measures being taken to ensure data integration and
transparency under programmes like 'Digital Agriculture Mission';
(c) whether the Government is aware that there is a need to reconsider the incentive
policy for conventional irrigation-based crops (like paddy and sugarcane) keeping in view
the current scenario of declining groundwater level and irrigation crisis; and
(d) if so, the concrete measures being taken to promote micro irrigation, crop
diversification and water-sensitive agricultural practices?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य म(cid:287)ं ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) & (b): The Government has approved the Digital Agriculture Mission in September
2024. The Mission envisages the creation of a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for
Agriculture, such as AgriStack, Krishi Decision Support System (KDSS), and a
comprehensive Soil Fertility & Profile Map to enable a robust digital agriculture ecosystem
in the country. This, in turn, would drive innovative farmer-centric digital solutions and make
reliable crop-related information available to all farmers on time. The AgriStack DPI consists
of three foundational registries or databases associated with the agriculture sector, i.e.,
Geo-Referenced Village Maps, Crop Sown Registry and the Farmers Registry, all created
and maintained by the State Governments/ Union Territories.
Farmer Registry provides comprehensive and useful data on farmers' demographic
details, land holdings, and crops sown, enabling farmers to digitally identify and
authenticate them for accessing benefits and services such as credit, insurance,
procurement etc. It also enables state to design solutions that open access for farmers to
the digital economy such as Purchase and Sell of Inputs and Produce online in a trustfulmanner. Digital Crop Survey (DCS) System provides accurate, real-time crop area
information for every agricultural plot.
Krishi-DSS integrates and standardizes geospatial and non-geospatial data,
including satellite, weather, soil, crop signatures, reservoir, and groundwater data, along
with government scheme information. Krishi-DSS offers crop maps, soil maps, automated
yield estimation models, drought/flood monitoring systems, etc, which support evidence-
based decision-making by the government and facilitate innovative solutions by research
institutions and the agritech industry.
Further, a nationwide Soil Resource Mapping project has been initiated by the Soil
and Land Use Survey of India (SLUSI), which is inventorying soils at a village level at
1:10,000 scale using high-resolution satellite and ground data to standardized soil maps for
rational land use and crop planning to promote sustainable agriculture.
(c) & (d): Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing the
Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) in the Country from 2015-16.
PDMC focuses on enhancing water use efficiency at the farm level through Micro Irrigation,
namely Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation Systems. The Micro Irrigation helps in water saving as
well as reducing fertilizer usage through fertigation, labour expenses, other input costs and
overall income enhancement of farmers.
The Government provides financial assistance @ 55% for small and marginal farmers
and @ 45% for other farmers for installation of Drip and Sprinkler systems under the
PDMC. Besides State Government, also provide Top-up subsidy to farmers from their State
Budget. The Assistance for installation of Micro Irrigation systems is limited to 5 hectares
per beneficiary.
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