New Delhi: Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan has formally launched the upgraded Agri Welfare Portal, aimed at providing farmers across India with direct and easy access to government schemes, financial assistance and reliable agricultural information through their mobile phones.
The Agri Welfare Portal has been upgraded in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Digital India and his commitment to farmers’ welfare.
The platform is designed to eliminate procedural hurdles and reduce the role of intermediaries by enabling farmers to access government assistance and services digitally without having to visit multiple government offices.
Farmers to Access Agricultural Schemes Through Mobile Phones
Addressing the launch programme, Chouhan said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s clear vision is to ensure that the government remains accessible to citizens and farmers at all times through their mobile phones.
Technology, he said, could fulfil its true purpose only when it reached farms and rural communities and made farmers’ lives easier.
With the upgraded Agri Welfare Portal, farmers will no longer need to visit multiple government offices or navigate different websites to obtain information about schemes or submit applications.
The portal will bring together Farmer Producer Organisations, Primary Agricultural Credit Societies, agricultural scientists, researchers and startups, creating a common digital platform for the wider agricultural ecosystem.
Agri Welfare Portal to Provide Reliable Agricultural Information
Emphasising the importance of reliable information, Chouhan directed officials to ensure that the Agri Welfare Portal remains accurate and regularly updated.
He said outdated or incomplete information could undermine public trust in the system, making continuous updates essential to its success.
The Union Agriculture Minister also stressed that the language and processes on the Agri Welfare Portal must be simple enough for small and marginal farmers, including those with limited formal education, to understand and use the platform with ease.
To help farmers make effective use of the portal and other digital tools, a special training campaign will be conducted through Krishi Vigyan Kendras across the country.
Single Digital Platform for Major Government Schemes
Chouhan also commended the entire technical team for developing the upgraded Agri Welfare Portal within the stipulated time.
Developed in compliance with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s Digital Brand Identity Manual 3.0 and Guidelines for Indian Government Websites 3.0, the portal is designed to provide a secure, mobile-friendly and accessible digital experience, including for persons with disabilities.
The Agri Welfare Portal will serve as a single-window gateway to major government initiatives, including PM-KISAN, AgriStack and the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
By bringing these initiatives together through a common interface, the portal is intended to make it easier for farmers to access relevant government services and information.
Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Secretary Atish Chandra, Additional Secretary Pramod Meherda, senior officials from the Digital Agriculture Division and other officials from the Ministry and the National Informatics Centre were present at the launch.
Key Benefits of the Agri Welfare Portal
- All Services in One Place
The Agri Welfare Portal will provide information on the Ministry’s schemes, subsidies, rules and digital services through a single platform. This is aimed at reducing the time and effort farmers spend navigating multiple platforms.
- Greater Transparency and Fewer Intermediaries
The portal will provide online eligibility checks and direct application facilities. The transfer of financial assistance through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) is also expected to make processes more transparent and reduce the role of intermediaries.
- Designed for Rural Connectivity
The Agri Welfare Portal has been built with rural users in mind. The platform is lightweight and user-friendly, enabling smooth operation on basic smartphones and in areas with weak internet connectivity.
- Timely and Reliable Agricultural Information
Farmers will be able to access authentic information through the Agri Welfare Portal on weather conditions, scientific farming practices, the availability of seeds and fertilisers, and prevailing market prices for agricultural produce.
- Accessible to Persons With Disabilities
The Agri Welfare Portal has been designed in line with modern government accessibility standards. It supports screen readers and simple navigation, enabling visually impaired users and other persons with disabilities to access its services more easily.
