Context:
For the first time, India’s first advance estimates of kharif crop acreage, scheduled for September 2025, will be based entirely on satellite data, replacing the traditional manual girdawari system. The move marks a major leap in the digitization of agricultural statistics.
Key Highlights:
Digital Transformation of Crop Estimation:
- Satellite-based data will replace the girdawari system, where village accountants manually recorded crop data.
- The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is spearheading this shift across all districts.
- This initiative aligns with India’s broader Digital Agriculture Mission.
Expanded Crop Coverage:
- Current methods cover only 25–26 major kharif crops (e.g., rice, maize, jowar).
- Satellite data enables estimation for new and emerging crops such as:
- Dragon fruit
- Kiwi
- Avocado
- Berries
Strategic Benefits:
- Enhances data-driven policy making.
- Reduces dependency on manual processes prone to errors and delays.
- Improves timely interventions, especially during crop failures or climate-related disruptions.
