Farmers’ rights groups raise concern over agri-digitisation

New Delhi, June 30

Farmers’ rights and digital rights organisations have expressed “grave concerns” over the Centre’s proposals on agri-digitisation, pointing “fundamental problems” with the process being followed by it to “push digitisation in the agriculture sector”.

Urging the government to not rush into the “IDEA” (India Digital Ecosystem of Agriculture) proposals, the group of 91 organisations asked it to “withdraw the MoUs signed with companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Star Agribazaar, ESRI and Patanjali”.

The Agriculture Ministry consultation paper on IDEA transforming agriculture was put in the public domain on June 1, seeking feedback by June 30.

Organisations, including ASHA Kisan Swaraj, BKU (Tikait), Internet Freedom Foundation, IT for Change, working on agricultural issues and digital rights, in their letter to the ministry flagged “fundamental problems” in the process being followed by the Centre “in pushing digitisation in the agriculture sector”. — TNS