A New Era of Digital Revolution in Agriculture: 61 Million Farmers across 14 States Receive Digital IDs Linked to Land Records

In a significant step towards making agriculture data-driven, profitable, and dignified, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, in collaboration with state governments, has issued digital farmer identity cards—Kisan Pehchaan Patra—to over 61 million farmers across 14 states. These IDs are directly linked to the farmers’ land records.

Purpose and Benefits:

This initiative aims to ensure transparent land ownership, reduce subsidy leakages, and provide farmers with direct access to government schemes, including subsidies, crop insurance, loans, and advisory services. For the government, it will enable more accurate and targeted service delivery. For farmers, it promises reduced income volatility and improved returns on investment.

Expansion Plan and State-Wise Progress: The ministry has set a target to bring 110 million farmers under this digital ID system by the end of FY 2026–27. As of now, state-wise progress includes:

1. Uttar Pradesh – 13 million IDs
2. Maharashtra – 9.9 million
3. Madhya Pradesh – 8.3 million
4. Rajasthan – 7.5 million
5. Andhra Pradesh – 4.5 million
6. Gujarat – 4.4 million
7. Tamil Nadu – 3 million

Significant progress has also been made in Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Kerala, and Telangana.

Key Benefits of the Digital IDs:

For the Government:

• Transparent and verified land records
• Accurate and effective delivery of scheme benefits

For Farmers:

1. Direct access to subsidies
2. Easier access to crop insurance and credit
3. Timely agricultural advisory
4. Improved risk management
5. Reduced income volatility and enhanced profits
6. For agri-input providers, this data-driven system allows for tailored product delivery and stronger farmer engagement.

AgriStack: Building the Foundation for Digital Agriculture: This initiative is part of AgriStack, a broader Digital Public Infrastructure initiative for the agriculture sector. Much like Aadhaar, these farmer IDs will serve as a central identity system, aiming to bring all farmers into the digital fold over the coming years.

Inclusion of Tenant and Lease Farmers: India has an estimated 140 million farmers, of which 30–40% cultivates land as tenant farmers or on lease. While data ownership will remain with the respective state governments, the digital identity platform allows for the inclusion and registration of these tenant and lease-holding farmers, ensuring that no segment of the farming community is left out.