**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Starred Question No. 51 raised in the Lok Sabha regarding hardships faced by farmers in Chhattisgarh due to digital systems for paddy procurement, scheduled for reply on February 3rd, 2026. It addresses concerns about 'Agri Stack,' biometric authentication, online tokens, and farmer suicides. The response indicates that the digital systems are supporting smoother access to agricultural services and information, and no suspension of these systems is proposed.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Digital System Implementation:**
* Small and marginal farmers in Chhattisgarh have *not* experienced extreme hardships due to digital systems like AgriStack.
* These initiatives have supported smoother access to agricultural services and information.
* **Farmer Registration & Biometric Authentication:**
* 13.70 lakh marginal farmers and 12.83 lakh small farmers have successfully registered for paddy procurement using Farmer IDs under AgriStack.
* Biometric authentication ensures ease of sale via OTP, IRIS scan, or fingerprint authentication, facilitating smooth paddy procurement.
* **Online Token System & Revenue Records:**
* No technical glitches have been reported in the online token system.
* 14.72 lakh small farmers and 11.99 lakh marginal farmers have received tokens.
* Discrepancies in Girdawari (revenue records) are addressed through physical verification via the PV App.
* **Farmer Suicides:**
* No reports have been received indicating farmer suicides attributable to paddy procurement issues.
* **System Suspension:**
* The Government of Chhattisgarh does *not* propose to suspend digital systems.
* The systems aim to enhance transparency, efficiency, and farmer convenience.
**Impact Analysis**
**Farmers in Chhattisgarh**
* **Impact:**
* The digital systems are intended to provide smoother access to agricultural services and information.
* Farmers have multiple convenient options for biometric authentication.
* A system is in place to resolve discrepancies in revenue records.
* The Government claims no correlation between farmer suicides and paddy procurement issues.
* **Action Required:**
* Farmers should utilize the provided authentication methods (OTP, IRIS, fingerprint).
* Farmers should use the PV App to address discrepancies in Girdawari.
**Government of Chhattisgarh**
* **Impact:**
* Responsible for the implementation and maintenance of the digital systems for paddy procurement.
* Faces scrutiny regarding the efficiency and impact of these systems on farmers.
* **Action Required:**
* Continue to monitor and improve the digital systems to ensure efficiency and transparency.
* Maintain the PV App for timely correction of revenue record discrepancies.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: The primary ministry responsible for addressing the question about hardships faced by farmers.
AgriStack: A digital system used for agricultural services and information, mentioned in the context of its implementation and impact on farmers.
Chhattisgarh: The state where the described hardships faced by farmers using digital systems are occurring, making it central to the applicability of the issues discussed.
Lok Sabha: Parliamentary body where the question regarding farmer hardships was raised and answered.
O.I.H
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 51
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 03RD FEBRUARY, 2026
HARDSHIP FACED BY FARMERS DUE TO GLITCHES IN DIGITAL SYSTEMS
* 51. SMT. JYOTSNA CHARANDAS MAHANT:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी
be pleased to state:
(a) whether extreme hardships are being faced by small and marginal farmers in
Chhattisgarh due to digital systems such as ‘Agri Stack’ and biometric authentication
for paddy procurement;
(b) whether technical glitches in the online token system and discrepancies in revenue
records (Girdawari) have led to deep mental stress and economic crisis among
farmers of the State;
(c) whether the Government has received reports of farmers taking suicidal steps in
despair across various districts and the reaction of the Government thereto; and
(d) whether the Government proposes to suspend these digital mandates until 100%
internet connectivity and error-free digital records are ensured in rural areas?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of House.STATEMENT MADE IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED
QUESTION NO. 51 REGARDING HARDSHIP FACED BY FARMERS DUE TO GLITCHES
IN DIGITAL SYSTEMS RAISED BY SMT. JYOTSNA CHARANDAS MAHANT DUE FOR
REPLY ON 3RD FEBRUARY, 2026.
(a): Small and marginal farmers in Chhattisgarh have not experienced extreme hardships
following the implementation of digital systems such as AgriStack; instead, these initiatives
have supported smoother access to agricultural services and information. A total of 13.70
lakh marginal farmers and 12.83 lakh small farmers have successfully registered for paddy
procurement in the State using Farmer IDs under AgriStack. Regarding biometric
authentication for paddy procurement, the system has been designed to ensure ease of sale
for farmers. Biometric authentication is completed through One Time Password (OTP)
based verification, IRIS scan, or fingerprint authentication, providing multiple convenient
options and facilitating smooth paddy procurement.
(b): No technical glitches have been reported in the online token system. Notably, 14.72
lakh small farmers and 11.99 lakh marginal farmers have received tokens through the online
token system. In cases where discrepancies arise in Girdawari (revenue records), a
provision for physical verification has been made available through the PV App, ensuring
timely correction and resolution of such issues.
(c): The Government of Chhattisgarh has stated that, to date, no reports have been
received indicating farmer suicides attributable to inconvenience or issues related to the
paddy procurement process.
(d): The Government of Chhattisgarh does not propose to suspend these digital systems,
as they are intended to enhance transparency, efficiency, and farmer convenience in
procurement operations.
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