Why in news?

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.

What’s in today’s article?

• Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)
• Digital Public Infrastructure in the agriculture sector - Digital Agriculture Mission
• Three pillars of Mission
• Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES)

Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)

• About
  • DPI refers to the foundational digital systems that enable the delivery of essential public services and foster inclusive economic growth.
  • These systems include a wide array of technologies, platforms, and services that support government functions, financial transactions, and social services.
  • DPI is designed to be interoperable, scalable, and accessible, enabling citizens and businesses to interact with the government and each other efficiently.
  • In India, notable examples include the Aadhaar system for unique identification, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for seamless financial transactions, and the CoWIN platform for managing COVID-19 vaccinations.
• Benefits
  • Inclusivity and Accessibility: The Aadhaar system has provided over 1.3 billion Indians with a unique identity, facilitating access to various government services and subsidies.
  • Economic Growth: The UPI system, for example, has revolutionized financial transactions in India, making it easier for small businesses and individuals to engage in digital payments.
  • Efficiency and Transparency: The Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system in India, has significantly reduced leakages in welfare schemes by ensuring that subsidies reach the intended beneficiaries directly.
• Challenges
  • Digital Divide: There remains a significant digital divide in India, with many people lacking access to the internet or digital literacy.
  • Privacy and Data Security: The Aadhaar system, while effective, has faced criticism and legal challenges over data privacy concerns.
  • Interoperability and Scalability: Integrating various state and national-level services with Aadhaar and UPI requires robust technical solutions.

Digital Public Infrastructure in the agriculture sector - Digital Agriculture Mission

• About
  • The Digital Agriculture Mission aims to create a comprehensive Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in the agriculture sector, similar to India's other successful e-governance initiatives like Aadhaar, DigiLocker, UPI, and electronic health records.
  • The mission focuses on three major DPI components: AgriStack, Krishi Decision Support System (DSS), and Soil Profile Maps.
  • Additionally, the mission includes the Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES).
  • DGCES will leverage technology to provide accurate estimates of agricultural production, fostering a more informed and resilient agricultural ecosystem.
• Funding for Mission
  • The Digital Agriculture Mission has a budgetary allocation of Rs 2,817 crore, with Rs 1,940 crore from the Centre and the remainder from states and Union Territories.
• Announcement and coverage
  • Planned as part of the Agriculture Ministry's 100-day activities under the newly formed govt, the Mission will be implemented nationwide by 2025-26.
  • Initially set for launch in 2021-22, the Mission was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • Announced in the Union Budgets of 2023-24 and 2024-25, the Mission aims to cover farmers and their lands within three years.
  • In 2024, a digital crop survey for the Kharif season will be conducted in 400 districts, incorporating details of 6 crore farmers and their lands into registries.

Three pillars of Mission

AgriStack

• The basic IT infrastructure for implementing AgriStack is one of the three DPIs to be built under the Mission.
• AgriStack consists of three foundational agri-sector registries or databases: 
  • Farmers’ Registry
    • Farmers will receive a digital identity called a 'Farmer ID,' similar to Aadhaar.
    • This ID will be dynamically linked to various records, including land ownership, livestock, crops, demographic details, family information, and schemes/benefits availed.
    • The government plans to create digital identities for 11 crore farmers, with 6 crore covered in 2024-25, 3 crore in 2025-26, and the remaining 2 crore in 2026-27.
    • This Registry will allow farmers to digitally identify and authenticate themselves to access benefits and services, reducing the need for paperwork and physical visits to offices.
  • Crop Sown Registry
    • It Registry will record details of crops planted by farmers, using information gathered through Digital Crop Surveys, which are mobile-based ground surveys conducted each crop season.
    • The government plans to roll out the Digital Crop Survey nationwide over the next two years, covering 400 districts in the 2024-25 financial year and the remaining districts in 2025-26.
  • Geo-referenced Village Maps
    • The maps will link geographic information on land records with their physical locations.

Krishi DSS

• The Krishi Decision Support System is a recently unveiled geospatial platform that integrates remote sensing data on crops, soil, weather, and water resources.
• It supports the generation of crop maps, helping to identify crop sown patterns, monitor droughts and floods, and assess yields using technology and models.
• This system will also play a crucial role in settling crop insurance claims for farmers.

Soil Profile Maps

• Under the Mission, detailed Soil Profile Maps (on a 1:10,000 scale) of about 142 million hectares of agricultural land are envisaged to be prepared.
• A detailed soil profile inventory of about 29 million ha has already been completed.

Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES)

• This will greatly improve the existing crop yield estimation system, and to make the data more robust.
  • This, in turn, will address concerns that are sometimes raised about the accuracy of India’s agriculture production estimates.
• By integrating digitally captured data on crop-sown areas with yield data from DGCES and remote-sensing data, the system will enhance the reliability of crop production estimates.
• This improved data will help government agencies make schemes like paperless Minimum Support Price (MSP)-based procurement, crop insurance, and credit card-linked crop loans more efficient and transparent.
• Additionally, the data will aid in facilitating crop diversification, evaluating irrigation needs based on crop and season, and promoting the balanced use of fertilizers.
• The DGCES will provide scientifically-based yield estimates, further ensuring accurate agricultural production assessments.