Chouhan Pushes Digital Farm IDs, Pulse Self-Reliance to Modernize Indian Agriculture
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Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan recently emphasized a critical dual focus for Indian agriculture: fast-tracking the AgriStack Digital Agriculture Mission and aggressively pursuing the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses. During a national conference in New Delhi, Chouhan reviewed the progress of these pivotal schemes, underscoring the creation of unique Farmer ID and the drive for self-reliance in pulse production as foundational to transforming the sector. This push aims to digitize farming processes and secure India's food future, directly impacting millions of farmers across the country. At stake is India's ambitious vision of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' (Self-Reliant India), particularly in the crucial agricultural sector. While over 10.31 crore Farmer ID have been created, linking farmers with digitized land records, a significant challenge remains, with approximately 40 percent of the net sown area yet to be covered. The 'Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses', launched in October 2025 with an Rs 11,440 crore outlay, targets a substantial increase in pulse production and a reduction in import dependence by 2030-31. However, the Minister highlighted uneven progress across states, with some lagging in land parcel mapping and inclusive identification of cultivators like sharecroppers. The immediate future calls for intensified efforts to bridge these implementation gaps. Chouhan urged states to achieve 100 percent saturation for the Digital Agriculture Mission and the Pulses Self-Reliance Mission, demanding that benefits materialize 'in the fields and farmers' pockets' rather than just on paper. The government plans to expand the Digital Crop Survey to 692 districts by the upcoming Kharif season, and states are directed to accelerate the establishment of pulse processing units and strengthen market linkages. This sustained focus on data-driven agriculture and strategic crop self-sufficiency is crucial for ensuring farmer prosperity and national food security in the years ahead.