Kurnool: The central government is collecting farmers’ data to issue a unique identification number (UID), similar to Aadhaar, for implementing various schemes for their welfare.
The initiative, known as the Farmers Registry, aims to streamline benefits and ensure that only eligible farmers receive support. However, many farmers are facing difficulties due to mismatches between Aadhaar details, land records and other documents required for registration.
In Kurnool and Nandyal districts, details of only a few farmers have been registered till now. Among them, one farmer in Kurnool and two in Nandyal have recently received their UIDs after successful verification.
The UID registration process had been proposed by the union government in 2021. The Agriculture ministry began implementing it in September 2024, targeting to register five crore farmers by March 2025. A pilot project had been initially conducted in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. Currently, 19 states, including Andhra Pradesh, have taken up the initiative.
“Errors in land records and Aadhaar data have been hampering the registry process. These discrepancies need to be corrected either in Aadhaar or land records. It is a complex process and farmers with low literacy are facing difficulties,” said Ch. Kotireddy, state president of the Consortium of Indian Farmers’ Associations.
Farmers must visit the Rythu Seva Kendras (RSKs) with their Aadhaar-linked mobile number and Pattadar passbook to register their names. The staff enters their details online, and an OTP is sent to the farmer’s mobile. Upon verification, an 11-digit UID is issued. If Aadhaar and land records match 80 per cent or more, the process is completed instantly. If the match is between 60–80 per cent, the village revenue officer (VRO) reviews the matter. If the match is below 60 per cent, the case is escalated to the tahsildar for final verification.
In the joint Kurnool district, around 900 RSKs oversee services for more than 7 lakh farmers, who are cultivating over 10 lakh hectares of land. While farmer details are currently being collected, the registry will later include horticultural and fishery farmers and may extend to tenant farmers, landless agricultural labourers, and allied professionals as well.
“I have been facing severe problems with a mismatch in my name in Aadhaar and the old land records. This is causing trouble with registration. I am still waiting for my registration,” said farmer K. Maddileti from Bethamcherla mandal.
The UID data will be used to ensure transparent allocation of crop insurance, PM-Kisan benefits, Kisan credit cards, Annadata Sukhibhava, agricultural subsidies and crop damage compensation.
On securing the UID registration, farmers will also receive updates on irrigation issues, pest control and agricultural advisories directly from officials, improving efficiency in implementation of various agricultural welfare programmes.
