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Creation of an Agristack has now, for some time, been identified as a necessary step for the realisation of the potential offered by Digital technologies and ICTs in Indian Agriculture. In order to create Agristack, the Indian Agriculture Ministry is in the process of finalising the "India Digital Ecosystem of Agriculture (IDEA)" which lays down a framework for building Agristack. The IDEA Ecosystem shall help the Government in effective planning towards increasing the income of farmers in particular and improving the overall efficiency of the Agriculture sector. In the process towards building the Agristack, the Ministry is undertaking pilot projects in collaboration with leading technology companies and "Agtechs".We summarise both the IDEA initiative and the pilots in this paper. We find that the IDEA ecosystem and the pilot projects are welcome initiatives. However, owing to some concerns around data and individual privacy that have been raised as well as the efficacy of solutions and the significant involvement of the private sector, continued transparency in all matters would serve the best interest of all concerned. It is hoped that the government adopts a consultative process with all stakeholders to resolve the genuine concerns. It should also seek continuous feedback of these initiatives through third party evaluations and independent studies so that a robust digital ecosystem in Indian Agriculture can be established that benefits the Indian farmer.

The Government of India brought two new laws and amended an earlier one, all the three dealing with Agriculture in India, in 2020. The two new laws seek to promote barrier-free inter-state and intra-state trade in agricultural produce and allow farmers to engage with processors, aggregators, wholesalers, large retailers, exporters in the form of contract farming. The third is an amendment to the Essential Commodities Act to liberalize the regulatory environment around stock holding limits for food items. These changes seek to pave the way for greater private investment in agriculture value chains and modernise Indian agriculture. The government of India claims that these reforms were long pending and will hugely benefit Indian farmers while some farmers' groups vehemently contest these claims. In this paper, we detail the issues involved and review both sides of the argument. We find strong rationale behind these reforms and believe that these reforms are a step in the right direction for the future of Indian farmers.

In 2020, government of India introduced some major policy changes in the Agriculture sector. These changes deal primarily with agricultural marketing. Following these changes, contract farming is now permitted all across India. However, concerns have been raised about monopolistic practices that the sponsors (usually big corporations) in contract farming arrangements could engage in, which would be detrimental to the interests of farmers. Open access digital platforms have the potential to adress some of these concerns by making commodity prices and quality norms publicly available. They could also reduce information asymmetry among contract farming participants and thus create a level-playing field. We propose a platform, similar to existing e-marketplaces that match buyers with sellers, where farmers can express willingness to undertake production of agricultural commodities on contract with pre-specified quantity, quality and price norms and sponsors can easily find willing farmers. Such platforms would have the potential to provide more opportunities for farmers, introduce competition in contract farming space, and reduce information asymmetries, and thus safeguard and advance farmers' interests.

Inefficiencies in the post harvest value chain in Indian agriculture stifle farmer incomes and are a barrier to the realisation of the full potential of Indian Agriculture. These inefficiencies arise from losses during harvesting, threshing, drying, poor storage facilities, transportation problems, defective packaging, manual assaying, legacy marketing practices and flawed policies etc. We review the issue of post harvest inefficiencies and the potential of ICTs to help sort some of these issues. Certain recent initiatives of the government in India towards using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in post harvest management like geotagging of agri warehouses, reefer vehicles and cold storages are a step in the right direction. Further, to address the issue of access of smallholder to such facilities, certain innovative pilot projects are being developed. Non-profit as well as private sector initiatives in this space are also showing an encouraging trajectory.

The Digital India programme of the government of India, launched in 2015, is an ambitious initiative which seeks to effect both process improvements as well as transform governance for the future in India through massive digitisation efforts. Numerous initiatives, particularly in the works of the Indian federal government have been initiated and have also delivered successful outputs and outcomes. Digitisation efforts are also being applied to comprehensively cover the functioning of local self-governance institutions like the Panchayats for easing processes as well as enhancing transparency aspects in their day-day operations. In the sense of coverage, thus, the Digital India Programme has come full circle. Apart from the usual challenges in any government programme of scale in India, like economic costs, illiteracy etc., lack of digital literacy, attitude of citizens as well as government departments and personnel resisting change, redressal of digital grievances, wide range of cyber-crimes and policy issues emerge as the major challenges facing Digital India. Continued support to Digital India, from both the federal as well as state governments is therefore necessary to achieve its objectives comprehensively.

The share of activities allied to Agriculture have seen significant increase in the total Agriculture sector gross value added in India over the past few years. In this paper, we review the trajectory of ICTs and digital technologies in the food consumption aspects in India and activities allied to agriculture, particularly livestock and dairying. We also briefly cover the concept of food traceability. Indian startups are rapidly progressing in the food delivery space and a number of startups are covering almost every aspect in the dairying sector. Many startups are also facilitating online cattle trade. All these startups are contributing to the Indian economy. Traceability and other technology led processes have also led to increase in farmer incomes. However, cost affordability and customization for Indian smallholder livestock farmers emerge as the prerequisites for greater digital technology penetration. Telemedicine for livestock health management emerges as an area with a lot of potential to benefit livestock farmers especially in remote and hilly areas with accessibility concerns. Governments can play a proactive role to take these technologies to larger number of farmers by comprehensive digitisation efforts in execution of publicly funded initiatives and also by encouraging startups.

Field visits were undertaken to speak to farmers in some districts in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to gain some qualitative insights about their current experiences with agriculture. The conversations were around production costs, prices of produce, economic viability of smallholder agriculture and agriculture extension services. Other issues connected to agriculture like landholding sizes, leasing of agricultural land, government policies and schemes for agriculture like minimum support prices (MSP), agriculture credit/Kisan Credit Cards(KCC), Soil health Cards (SHC), input subsidies etc., were also discussed. This paper summarises these free flowing discussions. Criticality of irrigation, comparisons between small and marginal farmers as compared to the slightly more landed farmers, agriculture being no longer remunerative enough and consequent disillusionment of farmers and youth with agriculture as a sole means of livelihood are general themes that emerge from these conversations. Paper concludes by elaborating these themes and observing that in spite of inadequate economic returns, smallholder agriculture in India remains significant for food security and livelihoods of our farmers in the absence of alternate and better remunerating economic opportunities.

Institutional Credit is an especially important input in Indian Agriculture. Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) have emerged as the instrument of choice to advance formal credit to Indian farmers. Government of India has undertaken 2 campaigns since February 2019 to saturate the number of KCCs. We analysed these campaigns and find that the net effect of these campaigns is absent altogether on the ground with respect to the number of KCCs. We suggest an alternative approach to include all farmers, particularly the landless cultivators (tenants, sharecroppers, oral lessees etc.) within the ambit of KCC so that saturation is achieved in a true and inclusive sense. The exercise can also yield robust estimates on the extent and terms of tenancy, which can be used to further fine-tune agriculture policy in India.

Modern smartphones come with high computing power, a variety of sensors and customization abilities that allow creation of a range of practical applications (apps). These features, coupled with the mobility and accessibility in terms of cost that smartphones offer, make them a potential game-changer for smallholder farmers in developing countries, particularly for these farmers' information needs. Smartphones can also make accessing government benefits, land records and crop survey requirements etc. more convenient for farmers. This paper explores how smartphones can be used in different ways, right from production planning to eventual sale of crop. Advanced applications like IoTs, drone use in conjunction with smartphones and design and willingness to pay aspects have also been covered. We believe that given the contemporary trends of robust low-cost devices (e.g., the JioPhone Next etc.) coupled with competitive data tariffs, smartphone use in agriculture will be beneficial for Indian farmers. In fact, the Indian experience can boost similar developments in the developing world, particularly in Africa.

Modern smartphones come with high computing power, a variety of sensors and customization abilities that allow creation of a range of practical applications (apps). These features, coupled with the mobility and accessibility in terms of cost that smartphones offer, make them a potential game-changer for smallholder farmers in developing countries, particularly for these farmers' information needs. Smartphones can also make accessing government benefits, land records and crop survey requirements etc. more convenient for farmers. This paper explores how smartphones can be used in different ways, right from production planning to eventual sale of crop. Advanced applications like IoTs, drone use in conjunction with smartphones and design and willingness to pay aspects have also been covered. We believe that given the contemporary trends of robust low-cost devices (e.g., the JioPhone Next etc.) coupled with competitive data tariffs, smartphone use in agriculture will be beneficial for Indian farmers. In fact, the Indian experience can boost similar developments in the developing world, particularly in Africa.

Governments across the globe and more so in the developing country context, have a primary responsibility of ensuring food security for their population and India is no exception. The Indian government is also responsible for the well-being of its farmers because approx half the population depends on agriculture for their livelihood. Given this background, our colonial experience and the environment of deficit and food insecurity in the decades even after our independence in 1947, Indian agriculture is inextricably tied to the state and its institutions particularly the governments both at the state and federal levels. The government is the sole entity responsible for maintenance of land records, and the primary entity responsible for comprehensive collection and collation of agricultural data and ensuring marketing of agricultural produce. Thus it is also the repository and custodian of all such data. Governments in India, through mechanisms like the essential commodities act and the control over export and import decisions exercise a dominant say in pricing and inflation of agricultural goods. It is the primary agency for weather forecasts and provides relief in times of natural disasters which adversely affect agriculture. Agriculture credit is also facilitated by government policies. The federal government and the state governments carry out all these activities through their various ministries/departments/agencies and policies for the agricultural sector. (.)

With the ongoing dramatic drop in prices for smartphones in India and the broader developing world, new frontiers are opening up for the incorporation of mobile technology into public service delivery. Mobile services in the fields of education and health have already been widely disseminated, with enormous potential for future growth. Such platforms both improve the quality of the user experience and provide data which can vastly improve the public decision-making process. The expansion of public services into the realm of mobile technology will only be accelerated if governments synchronize the deployment of capable mobile platforms with investments in the digital infrastructure needed to support them. However, while this path presents great promise, it also risks deepening the digital divide. Implementing mobile-based public service delivery presents a number of roadblocks such as India's relatively low rate of smartphone ownership, broadband infrastructure limitations, and overcoming the legacy of pre-digital institutions. These will need to be addressed in order to facilitate a smooth and inclusive transition towards applying these powerful technologies, but a successful outcome would mean a profound transformation of the Indian economy.

With the ongoing dramatic drop in prices for smartphones in India and the broader developing world, new frontiers are opening up for the incorporation of mobile technology into public service delivery. Mobile services in the fields of education and health have already been widely disseminated, with enormous potential for future growth. Such platforms both improve the quality of the user experience and provide data which can vastly improve the public decision-making process. The expansion of public services into the realm of mobile technology will only be accelerated if governments synchronize the deployment of capable mobile platforms with investments in the digital infrastructure needed to support them. However, while this path presents great promise, it also risks deepening the digital divide. Implementing mobile-based public service delivery presents a number of roadblocks such as India's relatively low rate of smartphone ownership, broadband infrastructure limitations, and overcoming the legacy of pre-digital institutions. These will need to be addressed in order to facilitate a smooth and inclusive transition towards applying these powerful technologies, but a successful outcome would mean a profound transformation of the Indian economy.

As reforms have paved the way for India's rapid economic expansion in recent years, particularly in the service sector, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has assumed a dominant role as the underwriter of India's growth. Outside of the commercial applications where ICT has been most extensively applied so far, ICT also holds great potential to drive human development, narrowing gaps between the rich and the poor as well as rural and urban areas. In many development-adjacent sectors, particularly education, agriculture, and health, platforms and initiatives have already demonstrated ICT's promise as a transformational suite of technologies which democratize information and dramatically reduce transaction costs. However, even greater progress is possible if initiatives apply an intersectoral approach which applies best practices from other sectors, highlights synergies between sectors, and identifies pitfalls stemming from hidden competition of priorities between sectors that could otherwise derail a project. Intersectoral analysis also recognizes how advances in the sectors under study contribute to growth in the broader economy. By applying an intersectoral lens, individual programs can be strengthened, new opportunities can be identified, and ICT can be more thoroughly woven into a tapestry that benefits all aspects of people's lives. ICT-driven development has not entirely ignored intersectorality, but opportunities abound for improving these initiatives by applying a more holistic lens. In particular, the field of nutrition is most sorely in need of mainstreaming within the many different siloed development objectives that touch upon it. Data, the foundation of ICT, provides great opportunities for refining programs of all types, but also carries great risks to privacy and potentially social equality. And untapped synergies exist between the cutting-edge advances in the Education sector and educational initiatives in other sectors which have not benefited from the same intentional pedagogical design.

As reforms have paved the way for India's rapid economic expansion in recent years, particularly in the service sector, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has assumed a dominant role as the underwriter of India's growth. Outside of the commercial applications where ICT has been most extensively applied so far, ICT also holds great potential to drive human development, narrowing gaps between the rich and the poor as well as rural and urban areas. In many development-adjacent sectors, particularly education, agriculture, and health, platforms and initiatives have already demonstrated ICT's promise as a transformational suite of technologies which democratize information and dramatically reduce transaction costs. However, even greater progress is possible if initiatives apply an intersectoral approach which applies best practices from other sectors, highlights synergies between sectors, and identifies pitfalls stemming from hidden competition of priorities between sectors that could otherwise derail a project. Intersectoral analysis also recognizes how advances in the sectors under study contribute to growth in the broader economy. By applying an intersectoral lens, individual programs can be strengthened, new opportunities can be identified, and ICT can be more thoroughly woven into a tapestry that benefits all aspects of people's lives. ICT-driven development has not entirely ignored intersectorality, but opportunities abound for improving these initiatives by applying a more holistic lens. In particular, the field of nutrition is most sorely in need of mainstreaming within the many different siloed development objectives that touch upon it. Data, the foundation of ICT, provides great opportunities for refining programs of all types, but also carries great risks to privacy and potentially social equality. And untapped synergies exist between the cutting-edge advances in the Education sector and educational initiatives in other sectors which have not benefited from the same intentional pedagogical design.