New Delhi: For the first time, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare incorporated data from the Digital Crop Survey (DCS) in its First Advance Estimates for Kharif crops in 2024-25. This change to digital data collecting is consistent with the government’s objective to digitize agricultural data collection.
The DCS, implemented by the Digital Agriculture Mission in conjunction with state governments, replaces the traditional manual Girdawari system. It uses technology such as remote sensing, geospatial analysis, and artificial intelligence to generate crop production data. DCS promises to improve crop area data dependability, eliminate human error, and increase efficiency.
Four key states—Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Odisha—used DCS-based estimations. These states have covered 100% of their districts with the DCS for Kharif 2024. This apparently resulted in a significant rise in the reported area under rice cultivation, particularly in Uttar Pradesh.
The Digital Agriculture Mission received approval from the Union Cabinet Committee in September of this year. The mission’s budget is Rs 2,817 crore, which includes Rs 1,940 crore from the central government.
The mission entails developing Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) tools such as AgriStack, Krishi Decision Support System, and Soil Profile Mapping. AgriStack intends to create a Farmer ID, a digital identification linked to land records, demographics, crops, and schemes. This plan aims to reach 11 crore farmers by 2027.
According to reports, a digital crop survey will collect information on crops cultivated throughout India. The government tested the Digital Crop Survey in 11 states in 2023-24 to support the Crop Sown Registry, with intentions to expand it countrywide by 2025-26. In fiscal year 2024-25, the study sought to reach 400 districts, with complete coverage projected the following year.
The data will assist government agencies in “MSP-based procurement, crop insurance, and credit card-linked crop loans, as well as developing systems for the balanced use of fertilizers, etc.,” according to the government press release.
However, the Digital Crop Survey (DCS) has a number of issues that may have an impact on its usefulness and dependability
Only a few states (Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Odisha) are fully covered by DCS for Kharif 2024, therefore the system lacks uniformity in reach. States lacking 100% DCS coverage may have difficulty synchronizing data with states that have adopted it, resulting in a fragmented and inconsistent dataset.
Moreover, technical difficulties, such as network gaps in rural areas, might impede data collecting, especially in isolated places with limited access.
The reliability of data from DCS depends on the accuracy and quality of satellite imaging and remote sensing data. Variability in the precision of satellite readings, weather interference, and other factors can lead to data discrepancies, which might not reflect actual crop conditions.
