Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for Agriculture 

Syllabus: GS2/ Governance, GS3/ Agriculture

Context

• Under the Digital Agriculture Mission, Gujarat became the first state in the country to generate “Farmer IDs” for 25 percent of the targeted number of farmers in the state.

Digital Agriculture Mission

• The Digital Agriculture Mission was approved with an outlay of Rs. 2817 Crore, including the central share of Rs. 1940 Crore.
• It is conceived as an umbrella scheme to support digital agriculture initiatives, such as creating Digital Public Infrastructure, implementing the Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES), and taking up other IT initiatives by the Central Government, State Governments, and Academic and Research Institutions.

Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for Agriculture

• DPI for Agriculture aims to provide comprehensive and useful data on farmers consisting of authenticated demographic details, land holdings and crops sown. 
  • It will include cultivators & tenant farmers, as per the policy of the State Government. 
• It is a transformative approach to digital governance, underpinned by the following principles:
  • Interoperability: Seamless integration with central and state government platforms.
  • Open Standards: Ensuring widespread adoption and accessibility.
  • Scalability: Designed to serve farmers across the country.
  • Robust Governance: Data security and privacy frameworks ensure trust and transparency.

Three Pillars DPIs

• Agristack: The farmer’s digital toolbox. It’s a federated structure, collaboratively built by various agencies of both central and state governments. Agristack houses three foundational registries:
  • Farmers’ Registry: A virtual farmer directory.
  • Geo-referenced Village Maps: For every village, with crop details overlaid.
  • Crop Sown Registry: A digital ledger of what’s sprouting where.
• Krishi Decision Support System: It provides timely and reliable information to farmers, helping them make informed decisions.
  • It aims to create a comprehensive geospatial system to unify remote sensing-based information on crops, Soil, Weather, water resources, etc.
• Soil Profile Mapping: It maps soil properties, moisture levels, and nutrient content, empowering precision agriculture.

Challenges

• Digital Divide: Farmers in remote areas face difficulties due to limited internet access and digital literacy.
• Data Privacy: Robust safeguards are needed to protect sensitive farmer data.
• Inter-State Coordination: Uniform implementation across states requires cooperation and resource-sharing mechanisms.

Way Ahead

• Strengthen digital infrastructure in rural areas.
• Launch capacity-building programs to improve digital literacy among farmers.
• Implement strong governance frameworks to ensure data security and privacy.

Concluding remarks

• The Digital Public Infrastructure for Agriculture aligns with India’s vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, aiming to create a sustainable and inclusive agricultural ecosystem. 
• By leveraging advanced technologies and farmer-centric approaches, DPI will enhance agricultural productivity, improve farmers’ incomes, and ensure food security.

Source: PIB