Introduction to Digital Crop Estimation

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare in India is transitioning from the traditional manual method of crop area estimation, known as the 'girdawari' system, to a digital approach using satellite data. This change is aimed at improving accuracy and efficiency in agricultural statistics.

Satellite-Based Crop Estimation

• The first advance estimates for kharif acreage will be released in September and will utilize satellite data, replacing the manual 'girdawari' system.
• Initial pilot studies have shown that the satellite method offers an accuracy range of 93–95%, significantly higher than the traditional method.
• This digital approach will cover all districts and improve the reliability of crop area estimates, reducing frequent revisions that create instability.
• Satellite data will also enable the estimation of acreage for new and emerging crops like berries, avocados, dragon fruit, and kiwi, which are not covered by the manual method.

Implementation and Impact

The Ministry began testing satellite-based estimation last year, conducting a Digital Crop Survey (DCS) under the Digital Agriculture Mission in collaboration with state governments.

• DCS was implemented in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Odisha, covering all districts for kharif 2024.
• The survey intends to replace the manual 'girdawari' system and has significantly increased the reported area under rice, especially in Uttar Pradesh.

Conclusion

This shift to fully digital crop area estimation marks a significant advancement in agricultural data collection, facilitating better planning and decision-making for both existing and new crop varieties.