Odisha’s Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja today chaired a crucial review meeting on the ongoing Digital Crop Survey 2025, urging district collectors and officials to achieve 100% error-free completion by September 30.
The survey, a cornerstone of the state’s digital agriculture initiative, aims to create a comprehensive, tech-driven database of crop cultivation to enhance farmer support, insurance claims, and resource allocation.
Held at Lok Seva Bhawan, the virtual meeting saw participation from Principal Secretary of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Director of Agriculture Shubham Saxena, other departmental officers, and the Chief Executive Officer of Odisha Knowledge Corporation Limited (OKCAL). District collectors joined via video conferencing, providing real-time updates on ground-level progress.
As of September 10, the survey has covered 52.53% of the targeted plots across the state’s 30 districts. Out of a total of 2.94 crore identified plots, 2.49 crore (85%) have been assigned for digital enumeration. To date, 1.55 crore plots have been surveyed by 28,867 deployed surveyors, with 49.30% of these submissions approved after initial verification.
However, Ahuja expressed serious concern over discrepancies in unapproved surveys, highlighting issues such as incorrect crop photography (e.g., photos not matching the actual sown crop or taken prematurely), reuse of images across multiple plots, duplication by single surveyors, and erroneous entries like marking paddy cultivation on fallow land. “These errors undermine the survey’s integrity and defeat its purpose of providing accurate data for farmer benefits,” Ahuja stated, directing immediate corrections and stringent action against errant surveyors, supervisors, and related officials.
To ensure quality, supervisors have been mandated to conduct 100% verification of surveys. Block- and district-level teams must adhere to issued guidelines for rigorous checks. Ahuja warned that any detected fraud or falsification would result in withheld payments for surveyors and disciplinary proceedings against supervisors and approving authorities. The Agriculture Department’s headquarters is also analysing approved data for anomalies, with zero tolerance for post-approval discoveries of malpractice.
During the session, Ahuja engaged in detailed discussions with district collectors, assessing progress in key areas and issuing tailored advice. He reiterated the need for regular monitoring and decisive enforcement against non-compliant personnel, particularly those flouting survey protocols.
The Chief Secretary underscored the survey’s broader impact: “This digital initiative ensures precise identification of farmers and data-driven aid delivery, securing crop insurance, subsidies, and other benefits. It promotes optimal land use and contributes significantly to Odisha’s – and India’s – economic and social progress.” With 48 lakh farmers set to benefit, Ahuja called for collective commitment from all stakeholders to deliver a flawless survey.
Odisha, a pioneer in digital agriculture, launched the e-Chasa app and portal in August 2024 to facilitate this nationwide pilot under the Union Government’s Digital Agriculture Mission. Covering 48 lakh hectares and 3 crore plots, the effort aligns with the goal of a pan-India digital crop registry by 2025-26.
As the deadline approaches, officials remain optimistic, but the emphasis on accuracy signals a zero-compromise approach to transforming agriculture through technology.
