Lok Sabha Question No. 2319 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-09
Subject: e-Governance for Agriculture
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Amol Ramsing Kolhe, DNV Senthilkumar. S., Sunil Dattatray Tatkare, Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, Krishna Pal Singh Yadav, Supriya Sadanand Sule

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2319 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 9 TH MARCH, 2021

## E-GOVERNANCE FOR AGRICULTURE

2319.

DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE: DR. DNV SENTHILKUMAR. S.: SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE: SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA: DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE: DR. KRISHNA PAL SINGH YADAV: SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has launched the National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture (NeGPA);
- (b) if so, the details thereof including the names of the States where it is being implemented along with the aims and objectives;
- (c) the challenges faced by the Government while implementing the plan and achievements made since its inception;
- (d) whether the Government has also launched Phase II of the scheme, if so, the quantum of funds allocated/released to the States/UTs;
- (e) whether the Government has also amended NeGPA guidelines, if so, the details thereof;
- (f) whether  the  Government  has  also  launched  Unified  Farmers  Service Platform, if so, the details thereof along with the aims and objectives behind the move; and
- (g) the  names of the programmes currently being run under the National eGovernance Plan in Agriculture and the role played by the public and private sectors in these programmes?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) to (c): Yes, Sir. National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture (NeGP-A) was initially  launched  in  2010-11  in  7  pilot  states  with  aims  to  achieve  rapid development in India through use of Information & Communication Technology (ICT)  for  timely  access  to  agriculture  related  information  for  the  farmers.  The key objectives of the Project include:

-  Bringing farmer centricity & service orientation to the programs
-  Enhancing reach & impact of extension services
-  Improving  access  of  farmers  to  information  &  services  throughout  cropcycle
-  Building  upon,  enhancing  &  integrating  the  existing  ICT  initiatives  of Centre, and States
-  Enhancing efficiency & effectiveness of programs through process redesign
-  More effective management of schemes of DAC
-  Promoting a common framework across states

Under the scheme funds were released to States for procurement of hardware, site preparation, training, State Project Monitoring Units, data Digitization, connectivity upto Block Level, consumables,  dissemination of agriculture related information through ICT means, customization of applications as per State/UT specific requirement etc.

(d)  Phase-II of the scheme commenced from 2014-15 which was extended for all the remaining States and 2 UTs. The quantum of funds allocated/released to States/UTs during last three years is as under:

|         | In Rs. Lakhs   | In Rs. Lakhs   |
|---------|----------------|----------------|
| Year    | Allocation     | Release        |
| 2017-18 | 1750.06        | 1748.00        |
| 2018-19 | 3100.00        | 2278.09        |
| 2019-20 | 2600.00        | 2192.07        |

(e)    In 2020-21, following the recommendations made by Doubling of Farmers Income committee, NeGPA guidelines were revised envisaging sanctioning of funds to States/UTsfor projects involving use of modern Information Technologies  mentioned  above  such  as  Artificial Intelligence  &  Machine Learning,  Block  Chain  Technology,  Internet  of  Things,  Robotics  etc.,  and  for customization / shifting of web & mobile applications already developed by the States, to the platform to be developed using digital/emerging technologies.

(f)  Yes, Sir. The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare is developing a Unified Farmer Service Platform (UFSP) consisting a Federated Farmer Database comprising of a nationwide land linked Federated Database of  'Verified'  Farmers  and  various  services  related  to  farmer  identification  and authentication which shall be built on top of it.

- (g)    Under  the  revised  guidelines  funds  are  only  sanctioned  to  States/UTs undertaking/implementing  projects  involving  new  &  emerging  technologies described in (e) above.

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