As of 20th July, 2026, more than 10.18 Crore Farmer IDs have been created to streamline the direct transfer of subsidies and technical advisories. The State-wise progress of Farmer IDs generated is placed at Annexure-I. States are using Farmer IDs to ease the lives of farmers. It enables the integration of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes such as registrations under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojna (PM Kisan), Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY), Minimum Support Price (MSP) based procurement, access to credit delivery, input distribution, and disaster relief.

The integration of satellite imagery has optimized and streamlined the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) operations through the following initiatives:

1. Yield Estimation System based on Technology (YES-TECH): Satellite Remote sensing data, coupled with various crop yield estimation models, is leveraged to generate technology based crop yield at Insurance unit level. This significantly supplements Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs) yield data, addressing localized yield anomalies with high accuracy.
2. Smart Sampling for Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs): Instead of random field selections, satellite- derived vegetation indices identify variations in crop health and this allows optimization of the planning of CCEs, eliminating manual selection biases and accelerating data collection.
3. Dispute Resolution: Remote sensing provides an objective assessment of crop conditions across seasons using time series satellite images. This data serves as an effective tool to resolve area discrepancy and yield disputes between State Governments and Insurance Companies in short turn-around time, eliminating delays in claim settlements.
4. Rapid Crop Damage & Inundation Assessment: In the event of localized natural calamities like floods, droughts, or severe weather anomalies, multi-temporal satellite imagery enables rapid mapping of the affected area. Through the automated workflows of the Krishi Decision Support System (DSS), the turnaround time for assessment of food inundation and drought monitoring has significantly reduced.

The various initiatives have been taken to train and equip for utilizing agricultural drones, such as use of drones are promoted under Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM) by providing assistance up to 50% for agriculture graduates, Small and Marginal farmers of the North Eastern States for procuring kisan drones. For other farmers, financial assistance for the purchase of Kisan Drones is provided at 40% of the cost. Financial assistance of 40% of the cost is also provided for establishing Custom Hiring Centres of Kisan Drones. A total of 2122 Drones have been distributed/approved under SMAM scheme.

The Farm Machinery Training & Testing Institutes (FMTTIs), which are subordinate offices of the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare located at Budni (Madhya Pradesh), Hisar (Haryana), and Biswanath Chariali (Assam), are DGCA-approved RPTOs conducting training on drones. To date, these institutes have trained 155 drone pilots. The expenditure towards these training programmes is met by the Institutes from their annual budget.

The comprehensive 15-day training programme on the operation of agricultural drones, including obtaining a Drone Pilot Licence, is an integral component of the drone supply package under the Namo Drone Didi Scheme. As the scheme is exclusively for the identified Women Self Help Groups (SHGs), the members of each selected SHG are trained as drone pilots. These trainings are conducted in Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) approved Remote Pilot Training Organization (RPTOs), which are presently 274 in number across the country. Under this scheme, 1094 drones have been provided to the selected SHGs.

Annexure-I

 

State-wise Generated Farmer IDs as on 20.07.2026

This information was given by the Union Minister of state for Agriculture and Farmers welfare, SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

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RC/MS

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