Context:

A national conference has been called by the Centre to discuss the enhancement of crop production statistics in New Delhi ahead of the nationwide implementation of the Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES).

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• The conference, emphasized the need for continuous collaboration between the Union and State governments to achieve the shared goal of enhancing the quality of agricultural statistics. 
• The primary focus of the conference was on the integration of technology to strengthen data accuracy and improve crop production estimates.

Key Highlights:

• Enhanced Accuracy and Reliability: The DGCES initiative aims to enhance the accuracy, reliability, and transparency of agricultural statistics, which is crucial for policy formulation, trade decisions, and agricultural planning.
• Integration of Technology: The Centre has emphasized the integration of cutting-edge technologies like remote sensing, geospatial analysis, and artificial intelligence in generating crop production statistics. These technologies are part of a revamped version of FASAL Program.

About Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES):

• The Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES) is a new initiative by the Centre to revolutionize the way crop data is gathered and analyzed. 
• This digital survey aims to calculate yield based on scientifically designed crop-cutting experiments for all major crops across the country. 
• By leveraging technology, DGCES seeks to provide accurate, reliable, and transparent agricultural statistics, which are essential for informed decision-making in the agricultural sector.

Revised FASAL Programme:

• The FASAL (Forecasting Agricultural output using Space, Agro-meteorology, and Land-based observations) was launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ welfare in 2006.
• The programme has been revamped to incorporate advanced technologies. 
• The updated version leverages remote sensing technology to generate accurate crop maps and area estimations for 10 major crops. 
• 9 major crops, Such as Jute, Kharif Rice, Sugarcane, Cotton, Rapeseed & Mustard, Rabi Sorghum, Wheat, Rabi Pulses and Rabi Rice come under FASAL.

• Plot-Level Data: The DGCES will provide plot-level data with geotagged areas of crops, acting as a single source of truth for crop-area estimation.
• Real-Time Data: The initiative is expected to provide near real-time and reliable data directly from the field, enabling more precise estimations of crop production.
• Reducing Discrepancies: The adoption of digital surveys and advanced technologies will lead to more efficient data collection, reduce discrepancies, and ultimately contribute to better policymaking in the agricultural sector.