India is a country where agriculture plays a vital role, with a large population dependent on farming.
To make farming more productive and profitable, the government has introduced the Kisan Digital ID Card, also called Kisan Pehchan Patra.
This initiative by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) aims to bring revolutionary changes in Indian agriculture.
The digital ID will be linked to the farmer’s Aadhaar card and farming records, providing a centralized system of identification and information.
The Kisan Pehchan Patra will connect farmers to state land records and include critical information such as demographic details, the types of crops grown,
and land ownership records. Additionally, it will document details of crops sown, ensuring accurate and comprehensive data about each farmer’s agricultural activities.
Goal to Cover 11 Crore Farmers by 2026
The government aims to provide a digital identity to 11 crore farmers across the country. This rollout is planned in phases:
6 crore farmers will be covered in the financial year 2024-25.
3 crore farmers in 2025-26.
2 crore farmers in 2026-27.
To accelerate this process, the Ministry of Agriculture has encouraged states to adopt a camp-mode registration approach, ensuring smooth and fast implementation.
A recent letter sent to states on November 28 highlighted the creation of a “farmer registry” from the Kisan IDs.
This registry will form part of the Agri Stack under the Central Government’s Digital Agriculture Mission, approved earlier this year.
Central Government Support for States
To encourage states to speed up the process, the central government has announced several incentives:
1) A grant of Rs 15,000 per camp organized for Kisan ID registration.
2) An additional Rs 10 per farmer ID created, funded through the PM-Kisan scheme budget.
Progress in States
The creation of Kisan IDs is moving rapidly in states such as Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh.
In other regions like Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha, the initiative is still in the field testing phase.
Meanwhile, many other states are progressing at different stages of implementation.
The Kisan Digital ID Card initiative is set to empower Indian farmers, improve agricultural efficiency, and strengthen the foundation of the country’s farming sector.
