One portal, multiple schemes: Centre expands digital access for farmers

New Delhi: Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday launched the upgraded Agri Welfare Portal, aimed at enabling farmers across the country to access government schemes, financial assistance and reliable agricultural information directly on their mobile phones.

The portal seeks to reduce procedural hurdles and dependence on intermediaries by bringing multiple services under a single digital platform. Farmers will no longer need to visit different government offices or navigate multiple websites to obtain scheme details or submit applications, Chouhan said at the launch.

Emphasising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Digital India vision, Chouhan said technology must reach farms and rural communities and make farmers’ lives easier. He directed officials to ensure that information on the portal remained accurate and regularly updated, warning that outdated or incomplete details could undermine public trust.

He also stressed that the platform must be simple enough for small and marginal farmers, including those with limited formal education, to use. A special training campaign will be conducted through Krishi Vigyan Kendras across the country to help farmers use the portal and other digital tools.

The upgraded portal will serve as a single-window gateway to major initiatives, including PM-KISAN, AgriStack and the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. It will also connect Farmer Producer Organisations, Primary Agricultural Credit Societies, agricultural scientists, researchers and startups on a common digital platform.

According to the ministry, the portal will provide information on schemes, subsidies, rules and digital services, alongside facilities for eligibility checks and online applications. Financial assistance through Direct Benefit Transfer is expected to improve transparency and reduce the role of intermediaries.

Designed for rural connectivity, the portal is intended to function on basic smartphones and in areas with weak internet access. It will also provide information on weather conditions, scientific farming practices, seed and fertiliser availability, and prevailing agricultural market prices.

The platform has been developed in accordance with the Digital Brand Identity Manual 3.0 and Guidelines for Indian Government Websites 3.0. It includes accessibility features such as screen-reader support and simplified navigation for persons with disabilities.

Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Secretary Atish Chandra, Additional Secretary Pramod Meherda, senior officials from the ministry’s Digital Agriculture Division and representatives of the National Informatics Centre attended the launch.