The Government of India has implemented a mandatory Farmer ID requirement for new applicants under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme, marking a significant advancement in digital agriculture infrastructure. The requirement, which took effect on January 1, 2025, builds upon India’s successful Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, which has already saved the government over $40 billion through fraud prevention.
Under the PM-Kisan scheme, which launched on February 24, 2019, eligible farmer families receive Rs 6,000 annually, distributed in three installments of Rs 2,000. The program, fully funded by the Central Government, provides financial support to small and marginal farmers for agricultural inputs. The digital payment framework is part of India’s broader digital transformation initiatives in the agricultural sector.
The Farmer ID system creates a unique digital identity linked to state land records, containing demographic information and crop details. Ten states have implemented the requirement thus far: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. These states represent approximately 84 percent of total PM-Kisan beneficiaries.
The initiative is a key element of the Digital Agriculture Mission, with the Farmer’s Registry serving as a component of the Agri-Stack system. The digital infrastructure aims to modernize India’s agricultural sector through technology integration and data-driven decision-making. The government has established a target of creating 6 crore farmer IDs by March 2025, with one crore IDs generated as of January 7, 2025.
“New applicants must register their names in the ‘Farmers Registry’ and provide the Farmer Identification ID while filling out the application form,” said a senior government official. “This system, mandatory for new beneficiaries, has already been implemented in ten states starting January 1, 2025. The directive to enforce this requirement in other states has also been issued.”
The PM-Kisan scheme uses India’s robust DBT infrastructure to deliver financial assistance directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts, eliminating intermediaries and reducing fraud. Over 9.4 crore farmers received the latest installment in October 2024, demonstrating the system’s extensive reach. A Parliamentary panel has recommended increasing the annual payout to Rs 12,000, which would further enhance the program’s impact on agricultural communities.
Sources: GK Today, AP7AM, Farmonaut, Financial Express
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