New Delhi: India has achieved its target of creating 11 crore Farmer IDs under the Digital Agriculture Mission, five months ahead of the March 31, 2027 deadline, Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Saturday.
The milestone was achieved by the night of October 23 through coordination between the Union government, state administrations and field-level officials, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
Chouhan described the achievement as a significant step towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed India with a prosperous farming sector. The Farmer ID initiative provides farmers with a unique digital identity designed to make access to government schemes and agricultural services faster, more transparent and efficient.
The digital identity system is expected to reduce paperwork and repeated verification when farmers apply for bank loans, Kisan Credit Cards, crop insurance and government assistance.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, the system is intended to support more transparent assessment and disbursement of compensation for crop losses. It is also expected to help speed up disaster relief for eligible farmers and improve transparency in the procurement of crops at minimum support prices.
According to the ministry, more than six crore farmers have already received direct benefits under various schemes through the Farmer ID-based service delivery system.
The Digital Agriculture Mission was launched after receiving Union Cabinet approval on September 2, 2024. Its digital public infrastructure aims to connect verified farmer records with agricultural services, reduce duplication and improve coordination among government departments.
Chouhan credited the achievement to the combined efforts of the Centre, states, Union Territories and district-level teams, describing it as an example of cooperative federalism.
States and Union Territories are also taking steps, in accordance with applicable rules, to include tenant farmers and actual cultivators in the digital platform.
The ministry said the Farmer Registry would form the foundation of a more transparent and farmer-focused system of governance. Chouhan urged farmers to embrace modern technology and make use of the benefits available to them through government schemes.
