Centre creates 11 crore Farmer IDs, five months ahead of its March 2027 deadline
Key facts
- The 11 crore Farmer ID target was met by the night of 23 October 2026.
- The deadline set by the Prime Minister was 31 March 2027, so the target came five months early.
- Farmer IDs are created under the Digital Agriculture Mission, which the Union Cabinet approved on 2 September 2024.
- Over 6 crore farmers have already received direct benefits through the Farmer ID-based delivery system.
Why it matters
[Data] A Farmer ID is a verified digital identity for each farmer. It is meant to cut repeat paperwork for loans, crop insurance, disaster relief and MSP procurement. The ID forms the base of the farmer registry in the Digital Agriculture Mission. Questions often ask about Digital Public Infrastructure in agriculture. For mains, note the concern: tenant farmers and actual cultivators may be left out. States are now working to bring them onto the platform.