National Conference Focuses on Enhancing Agricultural Statistics Through Technology Integration

The conference primarily focused on enhancing agricultural production estimates and integrating advanced technologies to strengthen data accuracy.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, under the leadership of Secretary Shri Devesh Chaturvedi, convened a significant national conference today in New Delhi. The event gathered senior officials from across the country to deliberate on new initiatives aimed at improving the accuracy, reliability, and transparency of agricultural statistics, which are essential for informed policy-making, trade decisions, and agricultural planning.

The conference primarily focused on enhancing agricultural production estimates and integrating advanced technologies to strengthen data accuracy. A key initiative discussed was the Digital Crop Survey, introduced in this year’s Budget Speech, which aims to provide plot-level data with geotagged crop areas. This initiative is set to become a singular, reliable source of truth for crop area estimation across India. Additionally, the Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES) has been launched to calculate yield using scientifically designed Crop Cutting Experiments for major crops nationwide. These efforts are expected to deliver near real-time, reliable data directly from the field, enabling more precise crop production estimates.

The conference underscored the importance of incorporating cutting-edge technologies such as remote sensing, geospatial analysis, and artificial intelligence to enhance the reliability of crop production data. The revamped FASAL (Forecasting Agricultural output using Space, Agro-meteorology, and Land-based observations) initiative was highlighted for its use of remote sensing technology to generate accurate crop maps and area estimates for ten major crops. Collaborative efforts with specialized agencies like the Space Application Center, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, and Indian Statistical Institute aim to generate comprehensive yield estimates for selected crops at the national level.

Another critical aspect discussed was the triangulation and validation of agricultural data through the UPAg Portal. This platform allows for cross-verification of data from multiple sources, ensuring the robustness of agricultural statistics. It integrates various data sources to generate precise crop estimates, supporting evidence-based decision-making and serving as a central hub for agricultural data accessible to policymakers and stakeholders.

The conference also highlighted the collaboration between the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) to enhance the supervision of crop cutting experiments. A phased plan by the National Sample Survey Office aims to ensure the quality of these experiments and state-level yield estimates through independent oversight.

A detailed presentation at the conference elaborated on the benefits of these initiatives, emphasizing how the adoption of digital surveys and advanced technologies will lead to more efficient data collection, reduce discrepancies, and contribute to better policy-making in the agricultural sector.

Shri Devesh Chaturvedi emphasized the importance of continuous collaboration between the central and state governments to achieve the shared goal of improving agricultural statistics. He urged states to promptly adopt these new initiatives and ensure their effective implementation.

The conference concluded with a strong consensus on the importance of these reforms and a commitment from all states to work together in strengthening the agricultural statistical framework, which is crucial for the overall development of India’s agriculture sector.