Over 24 Lakh Karnataka Farmers Risk Losing Benefits Due to Incomplete FID KYC
Months after the central government mandated the centrally registered Farmer Identification (FID) number for all agricultural scheme beneficiaries, a staggering number of farmers in Karnataka remain unregistered. More than 24 lakh farmers across the state have yet to complete the required Know Your Customer (KYC) process and provide digital consent, putting them at risk of missing out on crucial financial support, including the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) instalments.
Confusion and Delays Hamper Registration Efforts
Many farmers who already possess the state's Proto ID are reportedly confused about the additional KYC requirement, leading to significant delays in the registration process. This confusion is particularly evident in Belagavi district, where out of 6.6 lakh registered farmers, a mere 22,810 have successfully completed the KYC procedure. The agriculture department is actively pushing to meet its targets—which include 2,95,398 PM-Kisan beneficiaries and 1,51,871 other farmers—but progress remains sluggish despite multiple awareness campaigns and outreach initiatives.
FRUITS Portal: A Gateway to Government Schemes
The Farmer Registration & Unified Beneficiary Information System (FRUITS) in Karnataka is the digital platform used to create a unique FID for farmers, enabling them to access various government schemes. Farmers can register through the FRUITS portal by providing essential documents such as their Aadhaar card, land records, and bank details. Alternatively, self-registration is available via a dedicated mobile app. This identification number is now mandatory for all central agricultural schemes, ensuring that benefits are distributed transparently and efficiently.
Government's Push for a Data-Driven Agricultural Sector
An agriculture department official emphasized that the government is moving towards transforming the agriculture sector into a comprehensive data-based system in the digital era. This initiative aims to prevent ineligible beneficiaries from accessing schemes and ensure the transparent distribution of grants. The primary objective is to consolidate comprehensive information about farmers on a single platform, streamlining administrative processes and enhancing accountability.
Urgent Deadline and Awareness Efforts
Farmers are urged to complete their registration before the critical deadline of February 28 to avoid any disruptions in benefit disbursement. Failure to do so may result in farmers missing out on the upcoming PM-Kisan instalment, which is scheduled to be credited to their accounts soon. To facilitate this, continuous awareness is being generated among all farmers through various channels, including group call message boards and farmer contact centres.
Official Statements and Guidance
HD Kolekar, joint director of the agriculture department in Belagavi, clarified that an FID number will only be generated after farmers provide eKYC and digital consent. He advised farmers to submit their land details to the nearest Farmer Contact Centre, along with their Aadhaar card and Aadhaar-linked mobile phone, to expedite the process.
Mohammad Roshan, deputy commissioner, reiterated that no farmer should be deprived of the schemes due to registration hurdles. He announced that a meeting will be held with all officials to reissue instructions and ensure that every eligible farmer is brought into the system, underscoring the government's commitment to inclusive agricultural support.
