State-wise information on every land holding: Govt plans database with Aadhaar seeding to double farmer income

NEW DELHI: A national farmers’ database seeded in Aadhaar with details on different types of crops being cultivated and area under each type is the Centre’s big idea to double farm income.

A group of secretaries, entrusted by cabinet secretariat with the job to find out solutions to perpetual farm distress and double farmer income, has proposed a common database of farmers. This would form the basis of all reforms in the agriculture sector.

According to sources, the group of secretaries on agriculture and allied activities has proposed beginning with a consolidated database, which would have state-wise data of every land holding and its size, Aadhaar number, the area under cultivation, crops being cultivated every season, specific area under different crops, number of bags of urea used and a declaration of different government schemes being benefitted from.


The data, according to the group of secretaries, is already being maintained in different sets and only needs to be channelised into one with Aadhaar seeding. A senior official, involved in the exercise, told ET, “There is data on PM-KISAN Nidhi which tells us the broad economic position. There are different data sets for crop insurance scheme and different land holdings. When states acquire produce of farmers at different state mandis, they also have schemes which require them to declare land holdings and area under different crops.”

With this database, the government would be able to gauge the problem at hand and what mechanism it could use to steady markets which get hit when there is a glut after a bumper crop. The group did not find any problem with income enhancers such PM-KISAN Nidhi. The group has proposed that these income enhancers should be further increased – in coverage and quantum – during drought years.

The official quoted earlier said, “Market mechanisms can indicate when there would be a glut. There are obvious indicators. In such cases, the database can be used to see the number of farmers who could be affected.”