Source: Mint
Context:
With a new government taking charge in West Bengal, the state is expected to soon join the Digital Agriculture Mission (DAM) — the Centre’s flagship initiative for technology-driven farm reforms. Bengal is currently the only state in India yet to join the mission, making its imminent integration a milestone for the AgriStack platform — a digital public infrastructure (DPI) for agriculture that creates digital identities for farmers, enables crop monitoring, streamlines subsidy delivery, and enhances access to credit and insurance.
Key Highlights
- West Bengal is expected to shortly join the Digital Agriculture Mission (DAM).
- Context: A new BJP government has taken charge in West Bengal; central-state engagement is being deepened.
- Status before now: Bengal was the only state yet to join DAM.
- Platform: The AgriStack — a digital public infrastructure for agriculture.
- Objectives of DAM/AgriStack:
- Create digital identities for farmers.
- Improve crop monitoring.
- Streamline subsidy delivery.
- Enhance access to insurance and credit.
- Parallel development: The Centre is undertaking a comprehensive review of centrally sponsored and central sector schemes in West Bengal following the change of government (per Mint’s 8 May report).
About the News
What is the recent development regarding West Bengal and the Digital Agriculture Mission?
West Bengal is expected to shortly join the Digital Agriculture Mission (DAM). Discussions are underway between the state government and the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, and an agreement is likely to be signed soon.
Why does Bengal’s joining matter?
Because West Bengal was the only state yet to join DAM. Its participation will close the only major gap in the national digital-agriculture network and bring millions of Bengal’s farmers into the AgriStack platform.
What is the AgriStack?
A digital public infrastructure (DPI) for agriculture being built by the Government of India. It provides a federated framework for digital identities of farmers, crop data, land records, and integration of various agri-services like credit, insurance, and subsidies.
What are the objectives of the Digital Agriculture Mission?
(a) Create unique digital identities for farmers (Farmer ID). (b) Build a registry of crops sown by farmers (Crop Sown Registry). (c) Enable Digital Crop Survey using technology. (d) Improve targeted delivery of subsidies, credit, insurance, and welfare schemes.
Why is West Bengal an important state for DAM?
Because it is one of India’s major agricultural states, with about 7.2 million farmers (2015-16 Census), a net sown area of 5.5 million hectares, and high productivity in rice, potatoes, vegetables, pulses, oilseeds, and maize.
What broader Centre-State developments are taking place?
According to a Mint report (8 May), the Centre has begun a comprehensive review of centrally sponsored and central sector schemes operating in West Bengal — apparently linked to the recent change in government.
What are the expected benefits for farmers?
(a) Better-targeted scheme delivery via digital platforms. (b) Improved access to credit and insurance through verified Farmer IDs. (c) Reduced input costs through data-driven advisories. (d) Higher productivity via crop-monitoring and tech-driven decision support.
Why is the impact particularly significant for small and marginal farmers?
Because West Bengal’s agriculture is dominated by small and marginal landholders who often face the biggest barriers to formal credit, insurance, and subsidies. Digital identities and direct benefit transfer mechanisms reduce middlemen, paperwork, and exclusion errors.
Background Concepts
What is the Digital Agriculture Mission (DAM)?
A scheme of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare to digitally transform Indian agriculture through a Digital Public Infrastructure called AgriStack along with related projects like the Digital Crop Survey and Soil Profile Mapping. It enables data-driven planning, targeted welfare delivery, and improved access to agri-services.
What is AgriStack?
A federated set of interoperable digital registries and services in agriculture, with three core foundational layers: Farmers’ Registry (Farmer ID) — Aadhaar-linked digital identity for farmers. Crop Sown Registry — record of what is sown by each farmer. Geo-referenced Village Maps — digital maps for crop-level planning. These act as the foundation for various downstream services (subsidies, credit, insurance, advisories).
What is Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)?
DPI refers to a set of interoperable, open, foundational digital platforms — like Aadhaar (identity), UPI (payments), and Account Aggregator (data) — that enable a wide range of services to be built on top. AgriStack is a DPI for agriculture, modelled on the same approach.
What is the role of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare?
It is the nodal ministry for agriculture-related schemes — including PM-KISAN, PMFBY (insurance), KCC (credit), DAM/AgriStack, and overarching policy. Agriculture is a State subject under the Constitution, so implementation typically requires close state cooperation.
Is agriculture a Union or State subject?
Agriculture is primarily a State subject under Entry 14 of List II (State List) of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. However, the Union Government supports the sector through Central Sector Schemes, Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS), and policy instruments.
What is the difference between Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) and Central Sector Schemes (CS)?
Central Sector Schemes (CS) — Fully funded by the Union Government and implemented through central agencies (e.g., PM-KISAN). Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) — Jointly funded by the Centre and States, implemented by State governments (e.g., PMAY, PMGSY).
What is the Agriculture Census?
A periodic large-scale data exercise by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare that captures information on operational landholdings, area cultivated, crops grown, and farmer demographics. The reference period for the latest available is 2015-16, with newer rounds following.
What is PM-KISAN?
The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, launched in 2019, provides ₹6,000 per year (in three equal instalments) to eligible landholding farmers, transferred directly to their bank accounts under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Why are digital identities important in agriculture?
Because without a unique Farmer ID, scheme delivery becomes leaky — with duplicates, ghost beneficiaries, or exclusion errors. Digital identities help ensure right beneficiary, right amount, right time — a central principle of DBT and modern welfare design.
What are “small and marginal farmers”?
Under Indian definitions: Marginal farmer: Holding less than 1 hectare of land. Small farmer: Holding 1 to 2 hectares. Together, they constitute about 86% of India’s farmers but cultivate less than half of the total cropped area — making targeted support crucial.
Why is West Bengal a significant agricultural state?
Because it is one of India’s largest producers of rice, potatoes, jute, and vegetables, has highly fertile alluvial soils (in the Gangetic plain), and supports a dense rural population dependent on agriculture.
Practice MCQs
Q1. With reference to the Digital Agriculture Mission (DAM) and West Bengal, consider the following statements:
- West Bengal was the only state yet to join the Digital Agriculture Mission.
- The DAM uses AgriStack as its core digital public infrastructure.
- DAM aims to create digital identities for farmers and improve crop monitoring.
- The DAM is implemented by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
How many of the above statements are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
Q2. Consider the following statements about AgriStack:
- It is conceived as a Digital Public Infrastructure for agriculture.
- The Farmers’ Registry creates a unique digital identity for each farmer.
- The Crop Sown Registry records crop-wise sowing data for individual farmers.
- It functions independently of the Aadhaar identity system.
Which of the above are correct? (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 2 and 4 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1 and 4 only (e) All four
Q3. With reference to agriculture as a subject under the Indian Constitution, consider the following statements:
- Agriculture is primarily a State subject under Entry 14 of the State List.
- The Centre supports agriculture through Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes.
- Central Sector Schemes are jointly funded by the Centre and the States.
- Centrally Sponsored Schemes are typically implemented by State governments.
Which of the above are correct? (a) 1, 2 and 4 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1 and 4 only (e) All four
Q4. Consider the following statements about Indian agriculture:
- The latest Agriculture Census has 2015-16 as a reference period.
- Small and marginal farmers together account for about 86% of India’s farmers.
- West Bengal is one of India’s largest producers of rice and potatoes.
- PM-KISAN provides ₹10,000 per year to eligible landholding farmers.
Which of the above are correct? (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1 and 4 only (e) All four
Answer Key
- (c) — Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct. Statement 4 is wrong; the DAM is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, not the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
- (a) — Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct. Statement 4 is wrong; AgriStack’s Farmers’ Registry is Aadhaar-linked, not independent of it.
- (a) — Statements 1, 2, 4 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong; Central Sector Schemes are fully funded by the Centre, not jointly with the States. It is Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) that are jointly funded.
- (a) — Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct. Statement 4 is wrong; PM-KISAN provides ₹6,000 per year, not ₹10,000.
Exam Relevance
| Exam | Relevance |
|---|---|
| Banking (RBI Gr B, NABARD) | Rural & Agricultural Banking — high importance |
| SSC / Insurance / Railway | Static + Current GK on agriculture schemes, AgriStack, PM-KISAN |
| Agriculture / Forest Services exams | Core area — DAM, AgriStack, farmer identity systems |
