Farmers to get unique IDs under Agri Stack initiative

The Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department -- in coordination with the Revenue Department -- has started work on the creation of unique farmer IDs under the Union Government’s Agri Stack initiative, a step towards digitising agriculture and improving service delivery to farmers.

As per the authorities, Agri Stack is a digital platform aimed at bringing together various stakeholders in the agriculture sector to ensure better outcomes for farmers through data-driven services. Deputy Directors Agriculture (DDAs) across the state have been directed to spread awareness among farmers regarding the creation of farmer IDs and explain their long-term benefits to farmers.

In the past three days, out of 20,35,496 registered farmers at PM KISAN portal, 17,866 farmers have been registered at the Agri Stack platform. Faridabad, Mahendragarh, Karnal, Panchkula and Nuh are among the top five districts in registering the highest farmers across the state.

“The initiative is being implemented to make it easier for farmers to access government schemes, benefits and services through a single, verified digital identity,” said Dr Wazir Singh, DDA Karnal.

“We have started creating farmer IDs by organising camps at the village level. We have prepared a schedule and nearly 55 camps are being organised on a daily basis across the district,” he said, adding that farmers are being sensitised and mobilised to participate in village-level camps, where registration and verification processes are being carried out.

To ensure smooth implementation, the department has deployed officials of Agriculture and Revenue Departments at the ground level. “The creation of farmers’ ID is being done in mission mode. Officials have been deputed. The authentication and verification of record of rights data will be carried out by the patwari concerned,” he said.

“Farmers are being informed that in the near future, benefits such as PM-KISAN instalments, assistance under other government welfare schemes and even certain revenue services may be enabled and linked directly through the Farmer ID,” Dr Singh said.

He claimed that this platform would also help governments at both the state and central levels in better planning and implementation of agriculture-related schemes.