State Showcases Innovative AgriStack Model at National Conference

Itanagar, India Aug 23, 2026 ALN: The state has showcased its innovative approach to building a digital agricultural ecosystem that operates without conventional land records, addressing national policy leaders and advocating for greater flexibility in implementing AgriStack across various geographical and administrative contexts.

Agriculture Minister Gabriel D. Wangsu represented the state at the national conference titled ‘AgriStack under the Digital Agriculture Mission and Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses’ held at the Pusa ICAR Convention Centre. He shared insights on how the state has adapted the national digital agriculture framework to fit its unique non-record of rights (Non-RoR) land environment.

In his address, Wangsu highlighted the challenges posed by the state’s Non-RoR status, particularly in establishing a reliable connection between individual farmers and their agricultural land parcels. Instead of viewing the lack of conventional digitized land records as a barrier, the state opted to develop a tailored solution that meets its specific needs.

The Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Space Application Centre (APSAC), has created a customized Non-RoR methodology and standard operating procedures for identifying and validating agricultural land parcels and the farmers cultivating them.

Wangsu informed attendees that the AgriStack initiative has been piloted in six districts—Tawang, Namsai, Pakke Kessang, Lower Dibang Valley, Lower Subansiri, and East Siang—each representing diverse geographical settings. Approximately 25,000 geo-referenced farm plots have undergone both technical and field-level validation, with the first batch of 8,502 farm IDs generated in coordination with the central project management unit. The generation of Farmer IDs has also commenced.

The strength of the pilot lies not only in the numbers but also in the variety of terrains tested—from the high-altitude landscapes of Tawang and riverine areas of Namsai to the forested valleys of Pakke Kessang and the terraced horticultural landscapes of Lower Subansiri, culminating in the agricultural belt of East Siang.

“The proof of concept conducted by the ministry was also successfully completed, giving the state confidence that its Non-RoR methodology is technically viable and adaptable to the varied geographical conditions of the state,” Wangsu stated.

With the pilot phase successfully completed, the state is now scaling up AgriStack to the remaining 21 districts, aiming to integrate the entire state into the digital agriculture framework in a mission mode, continuing its technical partnership with APSAC.

Wangsu urged the Union Ministry to support the continuation and scaling of the state-developed methodology through the Department of Agriculture and APSAC, rather than mandating the adoption of implementation arrangements that are designed for different institutional and land-record conditions.

He clarified that the state’s request is not for any relaxation of the objectives, quality standards, or validation requirements of AgriStack, but rather for methodological flexibility to accommodate the state’s distinct land-record environment.

“The absence of conventional RoR need not become a barrier to building a digital agricultural ecosystem,” Wangsu emphasized, referencing the state’s experience in utilizing satellite technology, remote sensing, GIS, AI/ML, and field verification to establish a practical digital identity for farms and farmers.

Wangsu also presented two specific matters under Part-VII of SASCI, concerning the geo-referenced village maps registry and the mapping of satellite plot segments to owner plots. He explained that the state does not possess conventional geo-referenced village maps as envisioned under the standard framework. Instead, it has successfully developed geo-referenced farm-boundary maps through its AgriStack pilot.

He requested the ministry to consider whether this farm-boundary mapping could serve as an alternative or functional equivalent under Component C, pending technical examination and validation by the Government of India. A similar consideration was sought for Component D, where the state’s existing farm-level geospatial framework could potentially be enhanced with satellite-based plot-segment mapping and technical validation.

The minister also highlighted the logistical challenges involved in conducting Farmer ID generation camps across the state. With widely dispersed settlements, difficult mountainous terrain, and connectivity constraints, mobilization and field-level verification incur significantly higher logistical costs compared to geographically compact states.

He therefore requested the ministry to consider increasing financial assistance for Farmer ID generation camps in the state, taking into account the additional expenses involved in reaching farmers in remote and challenging areas.

Wangsu expressed confidence that with ongoing guidance and support from the central government, the state can emerge as a practical model for AgriStack implementation in Non-RoR, mountainous, and geographically challenging regions, contributing to the broader national vision of a farmer-centric digital agricultural ecosystem and enhanced self-reliance in agriculture.