Kerala Sets Up 11-Member Chief Secretary-Led AgriStack Data Governance Committee to Protect Farmers’ Digital Data Under Digital Agriculture Mission
In a significant move towards strengthening digital governance in the agriculture sector, the Kerala government has constituted an 11-member State AgriStack Data Governance Committee (SADGC) under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary. The newly formed panel has been entrusted with the responsibility of protecting, managing and regulating the state’s agricultural databases while ensuring that farmers’ digital information is handled securely, transparently and only for authorised purposes.
The committee represents a major institutional step in Kerala’s digital agriculture roadmap. It has been designed to serve as the state’s principal authority for governance of AgriStack data and will function as the fiduciary custodian of farmers’ information. In practical terms, this means the committee will hold agricultural data in public trust on behalf of farmers and farming communities while ensuring that every aspect of data usage complies with established legal, administrative and technological safeguards.
The initiative also brings Kerala in line with the Union Government’s evolving framework under the Digital Agriculture Mission, which seeks to build a technology-driven ecosystem capable of transforming agricultural planning, service delivery and policy implementation across the country.
Kerala Strengthens Digital Governance in Agriculture
The creation of the State AgriStack Data Governance Committee marks an important milestone in Kerala’s efforts to modernise agricultural administration through technology.
As governments increasingly rely on verified digital databases for delivering welfare schemes and planning development initiatives, concerns surrounding ownership, privacy and responsible use of data have gained equal importance. Recognising these challenges, Kerala has established a dedicated governance mechanism to oversee every stage of agricultural data management.
Officials believe that a structured institutional framework will not only improve administrative efficiency but also strengthen farmers’ confidence in digital governance by ensuring that their personal and agricultural information remains protected.
The committee has been empowered to supervise the complete lifecycle of AgriStack data, beginning with its collection and verification and extending to its storage, access and authorised use.
Part of the Centre’s Digital Agriculture Mission
Kerala’s latest initiative is closely linked to the Union Government’s Digital Agriculture Mission, one of India’s most ambitious programmes aimed at transforming agricultural governance through technology.
AgriStack forms one of the two foundational pillars of this mission. The platform is designed to create verified digital records covering farmers, agricultural land and crop cultivation while enabling governments to deliver services more efficiently.
The Digital Agriculture Mission envisions an integrated ecosystem where accurate and updated agricultural information can support evidence-based policymaking, improve transparency and ensure that government benefits reach eligible farmers without unnecessary delays.
The formation of Kerala’s State AgriStack Data Governance Committee reflects the state’s commitment to implementing this national digital framework while introducing robust safeguards for farmers’ data.
Supporting the State Core Handover Programme
The committee has also been constituted as part of the State Core Handover Support Programme, an initiative launched by the Union Government to gradually transfer operational ownership of AgriStack from the Centre to individual States and Union Territories.
Rather than functioning under a completely centralised system, states are now expected to establish their own institutional mechanisms capable of managing agricultural databases independently while remaining aligned with national standards.
Operational guidelines issued by the Union Government in September 2025 advised every State and Union Territory to create formal governance structures before assuming responsibility for AgriStack operations.
Kerala’s decision to establish the State AgriStack Data Governance Committee fulfils that requirement and places the state among those creating dedicated institutions for digital agricultural governance.
Committee to Serve as Custodian of Farmers’ Data
One of the committee’s most significant responsibilities will be acting as the fiduciary custodian of agricultural data. This means the committee will manage farmers’ information not as government property but as data held in public trust for the benefit of farmers and farming communities.
According to the Agriculture Department, the committee will ensure that agricultural databases are accessed only for legitimate public purposes and remain protected against unauthorised use.
Officials say this approach is intended to balance technological innovation with strong safeguards for privacy, transparency and accountability.
As agriculture increasingly becomes data-driven, protecting digital information has become as important as maintaining traditional land and revenue records.
Three Core Digital Registries Under Committee’s Supervision
The newly constituted committee will oversee the governance of three critical AgriStack databases that form the backbone of Kerala’s digital agriculture ecosystem.
Farmers’ Registry
This database will contain verified records of eligible farmers across the state and is expected to become the primary reference point for delivering agricultural schemes and welfare benefits.
A comprehensive farmers’ registry will help authorities identify beneficiaries accurately while reducing duplication and improving transparency.
Geo-referenced Village Maps
The committee will also supervise geo-referenced digital maps covering villages across Kerala. These maps will enable better land identification, improve planning for agricultural development and support location-based decision-making in farming and rural infrastructure projects.
Crop-Sown Registry
The Crop-Sown Registry will maintain updated information on crops cultivated across different regions. Such verified records are expected to assist policymakers in crop planning, disaster assessment, insurance coverage, subsidy distribution and market forecasting.
Together, these three registries will create an integrated digital database capable of supporting modern agricultural governance across the state.
Who Will Lead the Committee?
The State AgriStack Data Governance Committee has been deliberately designed as a multidisciplinary body bringing together senior administrators, legal experts and technology professionals.
The Chief Secretary of Kerala will serve as the Chairperson of the committee. The Additional Chief Secretary and Agricultural Production Commissioner will function as the Member Secretary and coordinate the committee’s operations.
Other members include senior officials representing several important departments and institutions:
Secretary, Revenue Department
Secretary, Law Department
Secretary, Electronics and Information Technology Department
Director of Agriculture
Director of Survey and Land Records
Director, Kerala State IT Mission
Land Revenue Commissioner
Director, Kerala State Remote Sensing and Environment Centre
State Coordinator, National Informatics Centre (NIC)
The diverse composition reflects the wide range of expertise required to govern agricultural data covering legal, technological, administrative and land-related aspects.
Major Responsibilities of the Committee
The State AgriStack Data Governance Committee has been entrusted with several critical responsibilities that extend beyond simple database management. Among its key functions are evaluating requests seeking access to AgriStack data and determining whether such access complies with applicable policies and public interest.
The committee will frame Kerala-specific safeguards governing data sharing, privacy protection and responsible use of agricultural information. It will establish compliance standards for organisations and departments using AgriStack databases while monitoring whether digital records are being stored, processed and accessed securely.
The committee will also function as the nodal authority coordinating AgriStack-related matters between the Kerala Government and the Union Government. Its oversight role is expected to ensure uniform implementation of national guidelines while addressing state-specific administrative requirements.
Improving Delivery of Welfare Schemes
Officials believe one of the biggest advantages of verified agricultural databases lies in improving the delivery of government welfare programmes. Accurate farmer registries can help ensure that subsidies, financial assistance and other benefits reach eligible beneficiaries without duplication or administrative delays.
Reliable crop records can improve planning for procurement, insurance settlements, disaster relief and agricultural extension services. Similarly, geo-referenced village maps can support better land management and strengthen planning for irrigation, infrastructure development and precision farming initiatives.
The availability of verified digital records is also expected to improve evidence-based policymaking by providing governments with accurate information for designing agricultural programmes.
Balancing Digital Innovation with Data Protection
As governments increasingly adopt digital platforms, protecting sensitive information has become an equally important policy objective. Agricultural databases often contain personal information relating to farmers, land ownership, cultivation patterns and financial assistance received under various government programmes.
The Kerala government says the newly established governance framework aims to ensure that such information is handled responsibly and remains protected from misuse.
Officials emphasise that technological advancement should not come at the cost of privacy or public trust, making strong governance mechanisms essential for long-term success.
A Significant Step Towards Digital Agriculture
The establishment of the State AgriStack Data Governance Committee represents an important milestone in Kerala’s digital transformation of the agriculture sector.
By creating a dedicated institutional framework under the leadership of the Chief Secretary, the state has taken a structured approach towards managing agricultural data while strengthening transparency, accountability and data security.
The initiative is expected to enhance implementation of welfare schemes, improve evidence-based agricultural planning and reinforce safeguards protecting farmers’ digital information.
As the Digital Agriculture Mission gathers momentum across India, Kerala’s latest move places the state in a stronger position to build a modern, technology-enabled agricultural governance system while ensuring that the interests and trust of farmers remain at the centre of the digital ecosystem.
