Lok Sabha Question No. 454 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-02
Subject: Modernisation of Agricultural Infrastructure and adoption of Digital Technologies
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Smt. Pratima Mondal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 454

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 02 ND  December, 2025

## MODERNISATION OF AGRICULTURAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND ADOPTION OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

454.     SMT. PRATIMA MONDAL:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state: (a) the details of measures being undertaken to modernise agricultural infrastructure under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, particularly in enhancing post-harvest management, storage, and value-chain efficiency at the grassroots level; (b)  the details of the steps which have been taken to ensure that the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme reaches all eligible beneficiaries, and steps taken to address issues of duplication, exclusion, or misidentification of farmers in the beneficiary database; and (c) the details of the Government strategy to increase the adoption of digital technologies -such  as  precision  farming,  satellite-based  crop  monitoring,  and  AI-driven  advisory

- systems - for enhancing productivity and resource efficiency?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛमंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) : The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) was launched in 2020-21 to address gaps in post-harvest management and strengthen agricultural infrastructure. Banks and financial institutions extend loans worth ₹1 lakh crore, with 3% per annum interest subvention from AIF. Credit guarantee coverage under Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises  (CGTMSE)  and  NABSanrakshan  for  loans  up  to  ₹2  crore  is  supported  by Government of India. AIF provides interest subvention for medium- to long-term financing for creation of post-harvest and farming assets such as custom hiring centres, warehouses, silos,  cold  storages, pack-houses, sorting  and grading units, assaying facilities, primary processing centres, logistics/supply-chain infrastructure etc. Interest subvention and credit guarantee together encourage investments by farmers, Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs),  Cooperatives,  Primary  Agricultural  Credit  Societies  (PACS),  Self  Help  Groups (SHGs),  agri-entrepreneurs and  start-ups. Projects under  AIF have  mobilized an investment of ₹1,22,731 crore in the agriculture sector like 39,022 custom hiring centres, 25,721 processing units, 20,917 farm automation units, 17,362 warehouses, 4,032 sorting and grading units, 2,739 cold storages etc.

(b)  :  To  ensure  that  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Kisan  Samman  Nidhi  (PM-KISAN)  scheme reaches  all  eligible  beneficiaries,  the  Government  has  established  multiple  enrolment channels  including  the  PM-KISAN  web  portal,  PM-KISAN  Mobile  App,  and  Common Service Centres (CSCs). The Government extends administrative funds to States/UTs to facilitate their outreach and promotional activities. The Ministry, in coordination with State Governments, conducts periodic saturation drives to ensure universal coverage. The 21 st installment  of  PM-KISAN  was  disbursed  to  9.34  crore  farmers.  To  address  issues  of duplication, exclusion, or misidentification, benefits are released only through Aadhaarseeded Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) based on verified State/UT data uploaded to the PM-KISAN  portal.  Several  technological  validations  have  been  introduced,  including integration with PFMS for bank-account verification, UIDAI for Aadhaar authentication and removal of deceased beneficiaries, and the Income Tax Department for enforcing exclusion criteria. The PM-KISAN database is additionally cross-checked with PDS ration card records and subjected to automated deduplication across PFMS, UIDAI, and Income Tax  datasets.  These  measures  ensure  accuracy,  transparency,  and  that  only  eligible farmers with cultivable landholdings receive the Scheme's benefits.

(c) :  The Government of India is implementing the Digital Agriculture Mission (DAM) to promote precision farming, satellite-based crop monitoring, and AI-driven advisories for improving productivity and resource efficiency. The Mission focuses on building a strong Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for agriculture, including AgriStack, the Krishi Decision Support System, and comprehensive  soil profile mapping. AgriStack comprises foundational databases such as Farmers' Registry, Geo-referenced Village Maps, and Crop Sown Registry, enabling timely and reliable crop-related information for farmers. The Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre (MNCFC) supports the Mission through satellite-based  crop  forecasting  under  the  FASAL  project,  drought  monitoring,  and technological support to PMFBY through YES-TECH and digital crop-cutting experiments.  The  Government  is  also  promoting  AI  and  IoT-based  solutions  for personalized advisories and improved farm management. Key initiatives include the AIpowered Kisan e-Mitra chatbot for farmer queries  and  the  National  Pest Surveillance System, which uses AI/ML tools to detect pest infestations and reduce crop losses.

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