Dr. Raj Shekhar, Agriculture Secretary of Uttar Pradesh, highlighted that the survey for Rabi 2023-24 will span from January 1 to February 15, employing a geo-referenced investigation conducted via a dedicated mobile app. A comprehensive task force of 29,750 surveyors, 1983 supervisors, and 132 verifiers, identified and trained at the district level, will spearhead this e-measles investigation across all districts' geo-reference ghats.
Acknowledging the significance of this initiative, Panchayat assistants, alongside employees from the Revenue and Agriculture Departments, have been entrusted with key responsibilities. Covering a vast expanse of 1,10,221 revenue villages in 75 districts, encompassing 7 crore, 87 lakh, and 73 thousand 211 villages, this endeavor aims to conduct e-measles testing across 6 crores, 69 lahks, 37 thousand, 766 ghats.
The preceding digital survey of Kharif crops already showcased significant progress, with 100% e-measles testing conducted in 21 districts, while 54 districts witnessed testing in selected revenue villages, completing a survey of 1,16,10,899 ghats.
Prospects and Benefits of Digital Crop Surveys:
Dr. Rajashekhar emphasized the pivotal advantages of this digital survey, citing its ability to furnish precise data on crop cultivation areas and quantities. Accurate production projections, pivotal for policy formulation, would be facilitated by this data, optimizing resource allocation for fertilizers, seeds, and chemicals.
The robust data generated through this system stands as a cornerstone for crop insurance mechanisms, offering a digital footprint of each gata, simplifying the verification process for insurers, and facilitating prompt claim processing, thus immensely benefiting farmers.
Implications for Price Regulation and Agricultural Planning:
The advent of this system promises to offer a comprehensive view of seasonal crop yields, enabling the government to strategically prepare for crop procurement and better regulate Minimum Support Price (MSP) purchases. Additionally, with a clearer picture of crop production, measures can be implemented to counter price fluctuations caused by inadequate market insights.
Digital Survey Mechanisms and the Redundancy of the Old System
In contrast, the traditional method, reliant on Khasra prepared by accountants, faced challenges with estimations and limitations due to the inability of accountants to cover all areas. This resulted in inaccurate estimations of crop production, impacting farmers' insurance claims and hindering precise crop-related data.
As the digital era heralds a new chapter in agricultural assessments, the shift from estimations to precise digital data marks a progressive stride, offering enhanced accuracy and transparency in evaluating crop cultivation, benefitting farmers, and facilitating informed policy decisions for a sustainable agricultural landscape.
