The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoAFW) launched the Unified Portal for Agricultural Statistics (UPAg Portal), a significant initiative to streamline and enhance data management in the agriculture domain. The portal (www.upag.gov.in) was launched by NITI Aayog member Prof. Ramesh Chand, who described it as a “giant step” in the realm of agriculture data management.
The UPAg Portal is a one-stop solution for all agricultural data needs, providing users with real-time, reliable, and standardized information. The portal aims to address key challenges such as lack of standardized and verified data, dispersed data, and different frequency variables. It offers a range of features, including data standardization, data analysis, granular production estimates, commodity profile reports, and plug-and-play functionality.
Prof. Chand called for a paradigm shift in agriculture, highlighting how the portal empowers stakeholders with real-time, reliable, and standardized information, ultimately paving the way for more responsive and efficient agricultural policies. He stressed that higher data objectivity translates into more stable, transparent, and informed decision-making, citing research suggesting that every $1 invested in data generates a remarkable $32 impact. Professor Chand also advised the portal to maintain data credibility as a top priority.
Manoj Ahuja, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare (DA&FW), shed light on the department’s ongoing initiatives, including the Krishi Decision Support System, farmer registry, and crop survey. He positioned the UPAg Portal as a public good, heralding reduced search costs, frictionless access, and a wealth of credible, granular, and objective data for users.
The UPAg Portal is a crucial component of the Digital Public Infrastructure for Agriculture, aimed at harnessing the diversity of the agriculture sector and using data as a catalyst for growth. It is a pioneering initiative by MoAFW to bring smartness, transparency, and agility to India’s agriculture sector.
