How can the 'Digital India' programme help farmers to improve farm productivity and income? What steps has…

Question

How can the 'Digital India' programme help farmers to improve farm productivity and income? What steps has the Government taken in this regard?

Ghissu Editorial · Accepted Answer

Digital India can raise farm productivity through timely advisories and soil data, and raise income through online markets, digitised land records and direct transfers. Steps include Kisan Call Centres, mKisan, Soil Health Cards, e-NAM linking 1,656 mandis and 7.63 crore Farmer IDs under the Digital Agriculture Mission.

**Introduction**

Launched on 1 July 2015, Digital India's e-Kranti pillar lists agriculture among services to be delivered electronically. For a small farmer, timely information, a wider market and direct payment matter as much as seed and water.

**How Digital India Can Raise Productivity and Income**

SKETCH: flow | Digital India to Farm Income
- Rural broadband
- Land, soil, crop data
- Timely advisory
- Higher yield, lower cost
- Better price, direct transfer

1. **Timely information**: Mobile weather, pest and crop advisories help farmers decide when to sow, spray and harvest, reducing crop loss.
2. **Efficient inputs**: Digitised soil data and plot-level advice cut overuse of fertiliser and water, lowering costs and protecting soil health.
3. **Better prices**: Online mandi prices and electronic trading widen the buyer base beyond the local commission agent, raising the farmer's share.
4. **Credit and transfers**: Digitised land records and JAM payments speed crop loans, insurance claims and subsidies without leakage.

**Steps Taken by the Government**

1. **Advisory platforms**: Kisan Call Centres (2004) and the mKisan portal (2013) send crop advice; Kisan e-Mitra has answered over 93 lakh queries (PIB, 2026).
2. **Soil Health Card (2015)**: Launched in February 2015 to give every holding nutrient-specific fertiliser advice.
3. **e-NAM**: Approved in July 2015, it now links 1,656 mandis and 1.80 crore farmers (PIB, March 2026).
4. **Farmer registries**: The Digital Agriculture Mission (2024) has created 7.63 crore Farmer IDs (PIB, 2026), and PM-KISAN pays income support through DBT.

**Conclusion**

Digital India can turn information into productivity and market access into income, provided BharatNet broadband, vernacular content and assisted access make it affordable and accessible to the small farmer.

How can the 'Digital India' programme help farmers to improve farm productivity and income? What steps has the Government taken in this regard?

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