Odisha Gets Rs 155 Crore Incentive for Digital Agriculture Reforms
AgriStack implementation strengthens transparency in PM-KISAN, crop insurance and procurement
Bhubaneswar: Odisha has achieved a major milestone in its digital agriculture journey with the Union government approving the state’s proposals under Special Central Assistance (SCA) for the implementation of AgriStack, India’s national Digital Public Infrastructure for agriculture.
With this approval, Odisha has become eligible for incentives worth ₹155.48 crore, recognising the state’s progress in building a technology-driven, farmer-centric agricultural system.
Incentives Linked to Key Digital Milestones
According to officials, the incentive amount includes ₹55.48 crore for achieving the first milestone of the Farmers’ Registry and ₹100 crore for the successful rollout of the Digital Crop Survey.
The approval reflects Odisha’s strong adherence to national standards, timely completion of coverage targets, and effective execution of large-scale digital reforms. The state has emerged as one of the leading performers in adopting data-based agricultural governance.
What is AgriStack and Why It Matters
AgriStack is a nationwide initiative aimed at creating a unified digital ecosystem for agriculture. It focuses on integrating farmer data, land records, and crop information to ensure accurate targeting of welfare schemes and better policy planning.
The two approved components—Farmers’ Registry and Digital Crop Survey—form the foundation of this system by answering three critical questions: who the farmer is, where the land is located, and what crop is being grown.
Farmers’ Registry to Ensure Accurate Beneficiary Identification
The Farmers’ Registry creates a verified and authenticated database of farmers across the state. This digital registry helps eliminate duplication and errors in beneficiary identification for major schemes such as PM-KISAN, CM Kisan and crop insurance programmes.
Officials said the registry will ensure that benefits reach the right farmers on time, improving transparency and trust in government schemes.
Digital Crop Survey Brings Plot-Level Accuracy
The Digital Crop Survey provides geo-referenced, plot-wise data on crops sown by farmers. This system enables the state to make realistic estimates of cultivated area and crop production.
By using verified data instead of manual estimates, the government can improve procurement planning, manage supply chains better and ensure targeted delivery of agricultural support. It also helps reduce disputes and inaccuracies related to crop reporting.
Leadership Calls It a Proud Moment for Odisha
Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo described the approval as a proud moment for the state. He said the recognition highlights Odisha’s vision to make agriculture more transparent, efficient and prosperous through digital innovation.
Singh Deo congratulated the Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department, technical teams involved in the project and the farmers of Odisha for contributing to this landmark achievement. He urged officials to fully utilise these digital tools to strengthen the agrarian economy.
Data-Driven Farming to Transform Agriculture
Principal Secretary of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Arabinda Kumar Padhee, said the AgriStack approval would revolutionise data-driven farming in Odisha.
He explained that agriculture plays a central role in livelihoods, procurement and input distribution in the state. The Farmers’ Registry and Digital Crop Survey will help shift planning from estimate-based systems to verified, plot-level, evidence-based decision-making.
Future Integration with Weather and Market Data
Padhee added that integrating AgriStack systems with weather data, soil health information, pest surveillance and market price trends will enable predictive analytics. This will support production forecasting, timely advisories, pest alerts and better price analysis for farmers.
Such integration is expected to improve resilience, boost productivity and enhance farmer incomes while strengthening Odisha’s position as a leader in digital agriculture reforms.
Odisha Emerges as a Digital Agriculture Leader
With the Union government’s approval and incentive support, Odisha has taken a significant step towards building a transparent, efficient and technology-driven agricultural ecosystem. The AgriStack implementation is expected to play a key role in shaping the future of farming in the state, benefiting both farmers and policymakers alike.
