Farmer ID: 11 crore target met five months before March 2027 deadline
Why in the news
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on 24 October 2026 that India had created 110 million (11 crore) Farmer IDs on 23 October, around five months before the March 2027 deadline.
Key facts
- Target met: 11 crore Farmer IDs, against a deadline of March 2027 set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- The IDs are being linked with the Integrated Fertiliser Management System (iFMS) of the Department of Fertilisers, through a mobile and web-based IT platform.
- Under the Framework for Fertiliser Sales, sales are tied to Farmer IDs, crop needs and land records using AgriStack or state platforms.
- Official records show fertiliser sales in select border districts fell 37.56% between the 2025 and 2026 kharif seasons; the aim is to curb diversion for smuggling.
- In pilot districts, sales dropped by about 25%.
Numbers to remember
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Farmer IDs created | 11 crore (110 million) |
| Date target reached | 23 October 2026 |
| Original deadline | March 2027 |
| Fall in border-district fertiliser sales | 37.56% |
About AgriStack and Farmer ID
AgriStack is a platform that connects farmer data with land records. A Farmer ID gives each farmer a digital identity linked to these records. The ministry says the IDs will help deliver schemes better, verify beneficiaries and improve transparency.
Exam angle
- Farmer IDs feed into AgriStack, which links farmer data with land records.
- iFMS belongs to the Department of Fertilisers.
- Linking fertiliser sales to Farmer IDs targets diversion and cross-border smuggling.