Professor Ramesh Chand, a distinguished member of NITI Aayog, officially launched the Unified Portal for Agricultural Statistics (UPAg Portal) on September 15. The groundbreaking platform, accessible at www.upag.gov.in, is poised to streamline data management in agriculture, fostering more efficient and responsive agricultural policy development.
Prof. Ramesh Chand lauded the initiative as a monumental step in agriculture data management. He emphasized its overdue arrival and its potential to evolve from a ‘small baby’ into a ‘great elephant.’ Professor Chand urged stakeholders to embrace a mindset shift in agriculture, advocating for transformative changes. He highlighted the portal's role in empowering stakeholders with real-time, reliable, and standardized information, laying the foundation for responsive and efficient agricultural policies.
Moreover, he stressed that objective data reduces the need for subjective judgments in policymaking, resulting in transparent and informed decisions. Citing research, Professor Chand noted that every USD1 invested in data yields a remarkable USD32 in impact, underscoring the importance of maintaining data credibility.
Manoj Ahuja, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare (DA&FW), shed light on additional initiatives underway within DA&FW, including the Krishi Decision Support System, farmer registry, and crop survey. He emphasized the UPAg Portal's role as a public good that reduces search costs, removes frictions and offers access to credible, granular, and objective data.
Arun Kumar, Senior Economic and Statistical Adviser at DA&FW, outlined ongoing efforts to enhance data accuracy and digital data governance in agriculture. Adviser DA&FW, Ruchika Gupta, shared the key features of the UPAg Portal, developed by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare to tackle data-related governance challenges, such as the lack of standardized and verified data, which hindered informed decision-making.
Key Challenges Addressed by UPAg Portal:
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Lack of Standardized Data: Currently, agricultural data is dispersed and presented in various formats. UPAg Portal consolidates this data into a standardized format for easy accessibility and comprehension.
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Lack of Verified Data: Reliable data is vital for sound policy decisions. UPAg Portal ensures timely vetting and updates of data, offering policymakers accurate information on agricultural prices.
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Dispersed Data: A comprehensive view of crops requires consideration of multiple variables, including production, trade, and prices. UPAg Portal amalgamates data from various sources, providing a holistic assessment of agricultural commodities.
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Different Frequency Variables: Data updates at different times, causing delays. UPAg Portal offers real-time connectivity with data sources, reducing monitoring and analysis time.
Key Features of UPAg Portal:
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Data Standardization: The portal standardizes data on prices, production, area, yield, and trade, eliminating the need for data compilation from multiple sources.
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Data Analysis: UPAg Portal performs advanced analytics, offering insights like production trends, trade correlations, and consumption patterns to inform policymakers.
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Granular Production Estimates: The portal generates granular production estimates with increased frequency, enabling swift responses to agricultural crises.
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Commodity Profile Reports: Algorithms produce commodity profile reports, minimizing subjectivity and providing comprehensive insights.
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Plug and Play: Users can use portal data to create their own reports, promoting data-driven decision-making.
This portal is a pioneering initiative by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, poised to streamline data management in agriculture, offering real-time, standardized, and verified data on agricultural commodities. This initiative aligns with e-governance principles, injecting smartness, transparency, and agility into India's agriculture sector.
