India’s digital database for farmers stirs fears about privacy, exclusion

A farmer harvests wheat crop in a field on the outskirts of Faridabad, northern India. Digital farming technologies and services, including sensors to monitor cattle, drones to analyse soil and apply pesticide, can improve yields and significantly boost farmers’ incomes, according to a study. But such technologies also generate huge amounts of data that can be used without the consent of farmers, said experts. — AFP

A plan by India to build digital databases of farmers to boost their incomes has raised concerns about privacy and the exclusion of poor farmers and those without land titles.

Tech firm Microsoft will run a pilot for the agriculture ministry’s AgriStack in 100 villages in six Indian states to “develop (a) farmer interface for smart and well-organised agriculture” aimed at improving efficiency and reducing waste.