**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1669, to be answered on February 10, 2026, regarding the outcome of digital agriculture initiatives undertaken or continued in 2025. The response, provided by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, outlines several initiatives and their impacts, including AgriStack, Digital Crop Survey, Krishi Decision Support System, Kisan e-Mitra, National Pest Surveillance System, Namo Drone Didi Scheme, and Seed Authenticity Traceability & Holistic Inventory (SATHI). The evaluation of these initiatives is ongoing.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Evaluation of Digital Agriculture Initiatives:**
* The government consistently evaluates the outcomes of digital agriculture initiatives undertaken or continued during 2025.
* **AgriStack:**
* Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) consisting of registries (Farmers Registry, Geo-Referenced Village Maps, Crop Sown Registry) to establish a single source of truth for farmer identity, land, and crops.
* Enables seamless integration of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes.
* Over 8.48 Crore Farmer IDs have been generated as of 04.02.2026.
* **Digital Crop Survey:**
* Enabled plot-level visibility of crops and better estimation of sowing patterns.
* In Kharif 2025, conducted in 604 Districts covering more than 28.5 crores plots.
* **Leveraging AgriStack (State Examples):**
* Maharashtra leveraged AgriStack for scheme delivery, disaster relief, AI-based advisory, and credit access, including the transfer of over 14,000 crore to 89 lakh farmers for Kharif 2025 crop losses.
* Chhattisgarh institutionalized Farmer ID and Digital Crop Survey for MSP-based paddy procurement, covering over 32 lakh farmers in a single season.
* **Krishi Decision Support System:**
* Geo-spatial platform integrating satellite imagery, weather, soil, and crop data using Geographic Information System (GIS) for agricultural planning and decision-making.
* Acts as an analytical web-portal for targeted advisories on crop, weather, and soil.
* **Kisan e-Mitra:**
* Voice-based Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered chatbot to assist farmers with responses to their queries on the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme.
* Supports 11 regional languages and is evolving to assist with other government programs.
* Handles over 8,000 farmer queries on an average daily, and over 95 lakh queries have been answered.
* **National Pest Surveillance System:**
* System for tackling the loss of produce due to climate change, utilizes AI and Machine Learning to detect pest infestation.
* Used by over 10,000 extension workers to capture images of pests to help mitigate pest attacks.
* Supports 65 crops and over 400 pests.
* **Namo Drone Didi:**
* Central Sector Scheme for providing 15,000 drones to Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) with an outlay of Rs. 1261 Crores for 2023-24 to 2025-26.
* Promotes advanced technology in agriculture, improved efficiency, enhanced crop yield, & reduced cost of operation.
* Lead Fertilizer Companies (LFCs) have distributed 500 drones.
* Study indicates adoption of drones has diversified SHG activities, improved agricultural practices, and increased income opportunities for women in rural communities.
* **Seed Authenticity Traceability & Holistic Inventory (SATHI):**
* Digital platform to streamline seed production, quality certification, distribution, and traceability pan-India.
* Establishes a National Seed Grid (NSG) integrating all seed stakeholders.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** Farmers
**Impact:**
* Improved access to credit, insurance, and real-time advisory services.
* Enhanced productivity, income levels, and market linkages through digital initiatives.
* Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes integration.
* Mitigation of pest attacks and reduction of crop losses.
* Diversified activities, improved agricultural practices, and increased income opportunities through drone adoption.
**Action Required:**
* Utilize available resources and platforms, such as AgriStack and Kisan e-Mitra, to access information and benefits.
* Participate in the National Pest Surveillance System by reporting pest infestations.
* Engage with SHGs and adopt drone technology.
**Stakeholder:** State Governments/ Union Territories
**Impact:**
* Responsible for creating and maintaining the Farmers Registry, Geo-Referenced Village Maps, and Crop Sown Registry for AgriStack.
**Action Required:**
* Maintain accurate and up-to-date registries.
* Collaborate with the central government to implement and leverage digital agriculture initiatives.
**Stakeholder:** Women Self Help Groups (SHGs)
**Impact:**
* Opportunity to become drone service providers, increasing income and livelihood support.
* Diversified activities, improved agricultural practices, and increased income opportunities.
**Action Required:**
* Participate in the Namo Drone Didi scheme.
* Undergo necessary training and certification for drone operation.
**Stakeholder:** Lead Fertilizer Companies (LFCs)
**Impact:**
* Contribute to the Namo Drone Didi scheme by distributing drones.
**Action Required:**
* Support the distribution and implementation of the Namo Drone Didi scheme.
**Stakeholder:** Extension Workers
**Impact:**
* Equipped with the National Pest Surveillance System for timely intervention in crop issues.
**Action Required:**
* Utilize the National Pest Surveillance System to detect and report pest infestations.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: The primary ministry responsible for the digital agriculture initiatives discussed.
AgriStack: A Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) consisting of foundational registries or databases associated with the agriculture sector.
Namo Drone Didi: A Central Sector Scheme for providing drones to Women Self Help Groups (SHGs).
Digital Crop Survey: A survey that has enabled plot-level visibility of crops and better estimation of sowing patterns across seasons.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojna (PM Kisan): A Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme integrated with Farmer ID under AgriStack.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1669
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10TH FEBRAURY, 2026
OUTCOME OF DIGITAL AGRICULTURE INITIATIVES
1669. DR. SAMBIT PATRA:
SMT. POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM:
SHRI JASHUBHAI BHILUBHAI RATHVA:
SHRI RAO RAJENDRA SINGH:
SHRI SHASHANK MANI:
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 the Government has evaluated the outcomes of digital agriculture initiatives
undertaken or continued in 2025, including AgriStack, Digital Crop Survey, Namo
Drone Didi Scheme, Kisan e-Mitra and others;
(b) if so, the details thereof, including farmer coverage, integration with land records and
improvements in access to credit, insurance and real-time advisory services;
(c) whether the Government has assessed the impact of these initiatives on productivity,
income levels and market linkages for farmers; and
(d) if so, the details thereof, including State-wise coverage and measurable outcomes?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) to (d): Yes Sir, the Government consistently evaluates the outcomes of digital
agriculture initiatives undertaken or continued during 2025. Some of the major initiatives are
as under:
I. AgriStack: The AgriStack is a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) which consists of
three foundational registries or databases associated with the agriculture sector, i.e.,
the Farmers Registry, Geo-Referenced Village Maps, and Crop Sown Registry, all
created and maintained by the State Governments/ Union Territories. It establishes
a single source of truth for farmer identity, land, and their crops.
Farmer ID enables seamless integration of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojna (PM Kisan), Pradhan
Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY), Minimum Support Price (MSP) based
procurement, access to credit delivery, input distribution, and disaster relief. As of
04.02.2026, more than 8.48 Crore Farmer IDs have been generated across the
country.
Digital Crop Survey has enabled plot-level visibility of crops and better
estimation of sowing patterns across seasons, which in turn supports evidence-based
planning for procurement, input supply and logistics. In Kharif 2025, the Digital Crop
Survey (DCS) has been conducted in 604 Districts covering more than 28.5 crores
plots across the country.Maharashtra has successfully leveraged AgriStack for scheme delivery, disaster
relief, Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based advisory, and providing credit access, including
the transfer of over ₹14,000 crore to 89 lakh farmers for Kharif 2025 crop losses.
Chhattisgarh has institutionalized Farmer ID and Digital Crop Survey for MSP-based
paddy procurement, covering over 32 lakh farmers in a single season, significantly
improving transparency, crop verification, and timeliness of MSP payments.
II. Krishi Decision Support System: Krishi Decision Support System is a geo-spatial
platform that integrates satellite imagery, weather, soil, and crop data using
Geographic Information System (GIS) to support agricultural planning and decision-
making. This acts as an analytical platform (web-portal) for developing targeted
advisories on crop, weather and soil.
III. Kisan e-Mitra: It is a voice-based Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered chatbot
developed to assist farmers with responses to their queries on the PM Kisan Samman
Nidhi scheme. This solution supports 11 regional languages and is evolving to assist
with other government programs. At present, it handles over 8,000 farmer queries on
an average daily and so far, more than 95 lakh queries have been answered.
IV. National Pest Surveillance System: The National Pest Surveillance System, for
tackling the loss of produce due to climate change, utilizes AI and Machine Learning
to detect pest infestation in crop issues, enabling timely intervention for healthier
crops. This tool, currently used by over 10,000 extension workers, allows farmers to
capture images of pests to help them mitigate pest attacks and reduce crop losses.
At present, it supports 65 crops and over 400 pests.
V. Namo Drone Didi: The Government has approved ‘Namo Drone Didi’ a Central Sector
Scheme for providing 15,000 drones to the Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) with an
outlay of Rs. 1261 Crores for the period from 2023-24 to 2025-26. The major
objectives of the scheme are to promote advanced technology in agriculture for
improved efficiency, enhanced crop yield & reduced cost of operation and to empower
SHGs as drone service providers for increasing their income and providing livelihood
support. Lead Fertilizer Companies (LFCs) have distributed 500 drones under the
Namo Drone Didi Scheme. Agricultural Development and Rural Transformation
Centre (ADRTC), Bangalore have carried out a study on the economics and business
viability of drone operations on these 500 drones. The study indicates that the
adoption of drones has diversified SHG activities, improved agricultural practices, and
increased income opportunities for women in rural communities.
VI. Seed Authenticity Traceability & Holistic Inventory (SATHI): It provides a digital
platform that streamlines the holistic management of seed production, quality
certification, distribution, and traceability pan-India. This endeavor establishes a
National Seed Grid (NSG), integrating all seed stakeholders within a unified national
digital platform.
******