Digital Agriculture Mission – UPSC – Edukemy

The Digital Agriculture Mission is an initiative by the Indian government aimed at transforming the way farming is done by using technology. This mission focuses on integrating digital tools like data analytics, mobile apps, and drones into agriculture to make farming more efficient and productive. By bringing technology to the fields, the mission helps farmers access real-time information on weather, crop health, and market prices, allowing them to make better decisions. The goal is to modernize agriculture, increase yields, and improve the livelihoods of farmers across the country.

Tags: GS-3, Economy- Growth & Development- Agriculture- Government Policies & Interventions- Digital Agriculture Mission  

Context:  

• Recently, The Union Cabinet has approved the Rs 2,817-crore Digital Agriculture Mission for the creation of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in the farm sector. 

Digital Agri Mission:  

• Objective: 
  • The Digital Agri Mission is designed to promote and expedite the adoption of digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), blockchain, remote sensing, robotics, and drones in agriculture. 

Key Features: 

• Farmers Registry: 
  • Purpose: Establishment of a nationwide registry that assigns a unique ID to every farmer. 
  • Current Implementation: States like Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra have already initiated the generation of these IDs. 
  • Significance: The unique farmer ID will enable access to various government schemes, such as PM-Kisan and Fasal Bima Yojana, as well as financial services like farm loans and insurance. 
• Crop Sown Registry: 
  • Purpose: Development of a registry documenting the crops sown by farmers on their land. 
  • Significance: This registry will facilitate improved planning and crop production estimation. 
• India Digital Ecosystem of Agriculture (IDEA): 
  • Framework: The Department is finalising the creation of an “Agristack,” a digital foundation for developing innovative agri-focused solutions. 
• Unified Farmers Service Interface (UFSI): 
  • Purpose: Creation of a unified platform offering farmers access to services such as weather updates, market prices, and agro-advisory. 
• Funding to States for New Technology (NeGPA): 
  • Implementation: Financial assistance provided to states and union territories for projects integrating advanced technologies like AI, blockchain, IoT, and robotics. 
• Revamping Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre (MNCFC): 
  • Objective: Enhancement of crop forecasting capabilities through technological advancements. 
• Soil Health, Fertility, and Profile Mapping: 
  • Objective: Utilisation of digital tools to evaluate soil health and fertility. 
• Timeline: 
  • The Mission will be implemented over the next two years, concluding in 2025-26. 
• Pilot Projects: 
  • Pilot initiatives have been launched in six districts: Farrukhabad (Uttar Pradesh), Beed (Maharashtra), Gandhinagar (Gujarat), Fatehgarh Sahib (Punjab), and Virudhunagar (Tamil Nadu). 
• Benefits: 
  • Inclusivity and Accessibility: The Aadhaar system has provided a unique identity to over 1.3 billion Indians, enabling them to access various government services and subsidies efficiently. 
  • Economic Growth: The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system has transformed financial transactions in India, simplifying digital payments for small businesses and individuals, thus boosting economic growth. 
  • Efficiency and Transparency: The Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system has significantly minimised leakages in welfare schemes by directly ensuring that subsidies reach the intended beneficiaries, enhancing transparency. 

Issues with Agri-Tech in India: 

• Limited Digital Literacy: A significant number of farmers lack the necessary skills and access to effectively utilise agri-tech solutions. 
• High Upfront Costs: The substantial initial investment required for agri-tech solutions poses a barrier, particularly for small-scale farmers. 
• Fragmented Land Holdings: The prevalence of small and fragmented land holdings complicates the implementation of large-scale mechanisation. 
• Limited Infrastructure: Inadequate access to essential infrastructure such as electricity and internet services hampers the widespread adoption of agri-tech. 
• Inadequate Government Policies: Inconsistencies and poor implementation of government policies reduce the effectiveness of agri-tech initiatives. 
• Lack of Collaboration: Limited cooperation among farmers, the private sector, and the government restricts the development of effective agri-tech solutions. 
• Limited Market Access: Challenges in accessing markets and obtaining market information hinder the adoption of agri-tech innovations. 
• Drone Regulation Issues: Privacy concerns arise due to the advanced sensors and cameras equipped on drones, affecting their regulation and usage in agriculture. 

Digital Public Infrastructure in the Agriculture Sector; 

• Objective: 
  • The Digital Agriculture Mission seeks to establish a comprehensive Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in the agriculture sector, analogous to successful e-governance initiatives in India like Aadhaar, DigiLocker, UPI, and electronic health records. 
• AgriStack: 
  • Foundation: AgriStack forms the basic IT infrastructure under the Mission, consisting of three primary agri-sector registries or databases: 
    • Farmers’ Registry: 
      Farmers will be assigned a digital identity, termed ‘Farmer ID,’ akin to Aadhaar, linked to records such as land ownership, livestock, crops, demographics, and benefits availed. 
    • Target: The government plans to issue digital identities to 11 crore farmers, with coverage expected to reach 6 crore by 2024-25, 3 crore by 2025-26, and the remaining 2 crore by 2026-27. 
    • Crop Sown Registry: 
      This registry will document the crops sown by farmers, leveraging data from Digital Crop Surveys conducted each season. 
    • Geo-referenced Village Maps: 
      These maps will connect geographic land records with their physical locations. 
• Krishi Decision Support System (DSS): 
  • Functionality: Krishi DSS is a geospatial platform that integrates remote sensing data on crops, soil, weather, and water resources, enabling crop mapping, drought and flood monitoring, yield assessments, and crop insurance claim processing. 
• Soil Profile Maps: 
  • Scope: The Mission aims to prepare detailed Soil Profile Maps (on a 1:10,000 scale) for approximately 142 million hectares of agricultural land, with 29 million hectares already completed. 

Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES): 

• Objective:  
  • DGCES aims to enhance the accuracy of agricultural production estimates by integrating digitally captured data on crop-sown areas with yield. 
  • Remote-sensing data, thereby improving the efficiency and transparency of schemes like MSP-based procurement, crop insurance, and credit-linked crop loans. 
• Funding: 
  • The Digital Agriculture Mission has an allocated budget of Rs 2,817 crore, with Rs 1,940 crore provided by the Centre and the remainder by states and Union Territories. 
• Implementation Timeline: 
  • Initially planned for launch in 2021-22, the Mission was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  
  • It is now set to be implemented nationwide by 2025-26, as part of the Agriculture Ministry’s 100-day activities under the newly formed government. 
  • The Mission, announced in the Union Budgets of 2023-24 and 2024-25, aims to cover farmers and their lands within three years.  
  • A digital crop survey for the Kharif season will be conducted in 2024, covering 400 districts and including details of 6 crore farmers and their lands. 

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs) 

Prelims 

Q:1 In India, the term “Public Key Infrastructure” is used in the context of:[2020] 

1. Digital security infrastructure 
2. Food security infrastructure 
3. Health care and education infrastructure 
4. Telecommunication and transportation infrastructure 

Answer: A 

Q:2 Consider the following statements: (2017) 

1. The nation-wide ‘Soil Health Card Scheme’ aims at 
2. expanding the cultivable area under irrigation. 
3. enabling the banks to assess the quantum of loans to be granted to farmers on the basis of soil quality. 
4. checking the overuse of fertilisers in farmlands. 

Which of the above statements is/are correct? 

1. 1 and 2 only 
2. 3 only 
3. 2 and 3 only 
4. 1, 2 and 3 

Ans: (b) 

Source: IE 

FAQs

Q: What is the Digital Agriculture Mission?

• Answer: The Digital Agriculture Mission is an initiative by the Indian government to use digital technology to improve agriculture. It aims to help farmers by providing them with tools and information through digital platforms, making farming more efficient and productive.

Q: How does the Digital Agriculture Mission benefit farmers?

• Answer: The mission benefits farmers by giving them access to real-time data on weather, soil health, and crop prices. It also provides advice on best farming practices and connects them with markets to sell their produce, helping them make better decisions and earn more.

Q: What kind of technologies are used in the Digital Agriculture Mission?

• Answer: The mission uses various technologies like mobile apps, drones, satellite imagery, and artificial intelligence. These tools help in monitoring crops, predicting weather patterns, and even diagnosing plant diseases, all of which can improve farming outcomes.

Q: Can small farmers access the benefits of the Digital Agriculture Mission?

• Answer: Yes, the mission is designed to be accessible to all farmers, including small and marginal ones. The government is working to ensure that even those in remote areas can benefit from digital tools by providing training and making the technology affordable.

Q: What challenges does the Digital Agriculture Mission face?

• Answer: Some challenges include the need for better internet connectivity in rural areas, digital literacy among farmers, and the high cost of some technologies. The government and various organizations are working to address these issues to make the mission successful for all farmers.

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