Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan says the Digital Agriculture Mission will simplify access to government schemes, bank loans, crop insurance, disaster relief and MSP procurement.
Highlights
- India has created 11 crore Farmer IDs under the Digital Agriculture Mission.
- The target was achieved five months before the March 31, 2027 deadline.
- More than 6 crore farmers have already received benefits through Farmer ID-based services.
- Digital identities aim to simplify bank loans, Kisan Credit Cards and crop insurance.
India Achieves 11 Crore Farmer ID Target Five Months Early, Says Shivraj Singh Chouhan
New Delhi, October 24, 2026: The Government of India has created 11 crore Farmer IDs under the Digital Agriculture Mission, achieving its target five months ahead of the scheduled deadline of March 31, 2027.
Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced that the milestone was completed on the night of October 23, describing it as an important step towards modernising agricultural services through digital technology.
The initiative provides farmers with unique digital identities to simplify access to government schemes, institutional credit, crop insurance and disaster assistance.
Farmer IDs to Reduce Paperwork
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Farmer IDs are designed to reduce repeated document submissions and verification requirements.
Farmers often need to submit the same documents to different government departments and financial institutions when applying for agricultural benefits.
The digital identity system aims to make these processes faster and more transparent.
It is expected to simplify access to bank loans and Kisan Credit Cards while improving the delivery of benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
The government also expects the system to support quicker disaster relief and more transparent crop procurement at Minimum Support Price (MSP).
Over 6 Crore Farmers Already Benefited
The Digital Agriculture Mission received Union Cabinet approval on September 2, 2024.
According to the ministry, more than 6 crore farmers have already received direct benefits through Farmer ID-based service delivery.
The verified farmer database is intended to reduce duplicate records, improve coordination between departments and help government agencies identify eligible beneficiaries.
It is also expected to strengthen monitoring and implementation of agricultural welfare schemes.
Centre and States Work Together
Chouhan credited the achievement to coordination between the Central Government, state governments, Union Territory administrations and field-level officials.
He said the target was completed through their collective efforts, ahead of the original deadline.
States and Union Territories are also taking steps to include tenant farmers and actual cultivators in the digital system, subject to applicable rules.
Digital Agriculture Mission to Improve Services
The government plans to further strengthen the Farmer Registry and integrate digital identities with agricultural services.
The initiative is intended to create a more efficient system in which farmers can access benefits with fewer administrative requirements.
Chouhan encouraged farmers to adopt digital technology and use the government schemes available to them.
The ministry said Farmer IDs would serve as a foundation for improving transparency, accountability and service delivery across India’s agricultural sector.
Source: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, PIB release dated October 24, 2026
