New Delhi: The government is strengthening India’s agricultural data collection system through AgriStack Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to address longstanding gaps in crop data and build a more accurate and reliable digital agriculture ecosystem.
The move follows findings from a report by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) titled “Review of Crop Statistics System in India through the Scheme of Improvement of Crop Statistics 2023-24.” The report identified several operational bottlenecks in the existing agricultural data collection mechanism.
Manual Data Collection Had Several Gaps
In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ramnath Thakur said the identified gaps were associated with the period when agricultural data collection largely depended on manual processes.
These shortcomings included non-coverage of the entire agricultural area, non-reporting of minor crops and errors in recording ancillary information.
The government is now seeking to address these issues by shifting towards a technology-driven and field-based digital data collection system.
Digital Agriculture Mission Drives Transformation
To overhaul the agricultural data ecosystem, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare approved the Digital Agriculture Mission (DAM).
The mission aims to establish a robust Digital Public Infrastructure for agriculture, enabling better collection, management and utilisation of agricultural data.
As part of this initiative, the government has rolled out AgriStack DPI, which includes the Digital Crop Survey (DCS) for maintaining a crop-sown registry.
Digital Crop Survey Captures Field-Level Data
Under the Digital Crop Survey, crop-related information is collected directly from agricultural fields through a mobile-based interface.
The digital system is designed to provide accurate and real-time information on crop areas for individual agricultural plots.
According to the government, this field-level data can help improve the accuracy of crop production estimates, while reducing errors associated with manual data collection.
During the Rabi season 2025-26, the Digital Crop Survey was conducted across 24 states and 648 districts, covering more than 31.3 crore agricultural plots nationwide.
The scale of the exercise marks a significant step towards creating a comprehensive digital database of crops cultivated across India.
Digital Survey for Crop Yield Estimation
Alongside the Digital Crop Survey, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) has also launched the Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES).
The DGCES is designed to improve the process of crop yield estimation through digitally managed Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs).
The system aims to streamline the entire crop-yield estimation process and improve the quality and reliability of agricultural statistics.
The DGCES is currently being implemented across 23 States and Union Territories.
Technology to Strengthen Agricultural Statistics
The government’s move towards AgriStack DPI, Digital Crop Survey and DGCES represents a broader shift from traditional manual data collection towards a digital, real-time and technology-enabled agricultural information system.
More accurate crop-area and yield data can help policymakers make better decisions related to agricultural planning, production estimates, food security, crop insurance and farmer-focused schemes.
With digital surveys expanding across states and districts, the government expects the new system to plug gaps in agricultural data collection and create a stronger foundation for India’s emerging digital agriculture ecosystem.
