Kerala Establishes 11-Member AgriStack Data Governance Committee Led by Chief Secretary

The Kerala government has constituted an 11-member State AgriStack Data Governance Committee (SADGC), headed by the Chief Secretary, to oversee the management and protection of agricultural data within the state. The committee will serve as the institutional framework for handling sensitive information related to farmers, land, and crops under the Union government's AgriStack initiative.

According to an order issued by the Agriculture Department on July 25, the panel will act as the 'fiduciary custodian of all AgriStack data within the State, held in public trust for farmers and farming communities.' This means the committee is responsible for ensuring that data is used ethically, securely, and only for purposes that benefit the agricultural sector.

The formation of the SADGC aligns with operational guidelines issued by the Union government in September 2025. These guidelines require states and Union Territories to assume 'fiduciary, approval and oversight functions' for the AgriStack digital infrastructure under the 'State Core Handover Support' programme. In the initial phase, the Centre mandated that states establish a committee-based or departmentally anchored mechanism to discharge these responsibilities. Kerala has chosen the committee route, making the Chief Secretary-led body the empowered authority for such functions.

AgriStack is a digital public infrastructure (DPI) conceived by the Union government as 'a single source of truth for farmer identity, land and their crops.' It is one of the two pillars of the Centre's Digital Agriculture Mission. The system comprises three foundational registries: a farmers' registry, geo-referenced village maps, and a crop-sown registry. These databases are intended to streamline the implementation of agricultural schemes and the disbursement of subsidies by enabling precise identification of beneficiaries and their land holdings.

The need for a robust governance mechanism, such as the SADGC, arises from the sensitive nature of the data involved. The AgriStack data includes personally identifiable information of farmers, details of land ownership, and crop patterns. Any misuse or breach could have serious consequences for individuals and the agricultural economy. Therefore, the committee's role is to ensure that data is handled responsibly, with clear safeguards and compliance requirements.

In addition to the Chief Secretary, the committee includes the Additional Chief Secretary and Agricultural Production Commissioner as member secretary. Other members are the secretaries of the Revenue, Law, and Electronics and Information Technology departments, the directors of Agriculture, Kerala State IT Mission, Survey and Land Records, the Kerala State Remote Sensing and Environment Centre, the Land Revenue Commissioner, and the State coordinator of the National Informatics Centre.

The committee's duties extend beyond mere oversight. It is empowered to approve or reject requests for AgriStack data access and use. It can prescribe state-specific conditions, safeguards, and compliance requirements for data handling. It will also serve as the nodal authority for coordination with the Union government on matters related to AgriStack.

The establishment of the SADGC marks an important step in Kerala's adoption of digital infrastructure in agriculture. By taking ownership of AgriStack data governance, the state aims to ensure that the benefits of digitalisation reach farmers without compromising their rights or privacy. The committee's multi-departmental composition reflects the cross-cutting nature of agricultural data, which involves land records, technology, law, and field-level implementation.

Experts note that data governance frameworks like this are crucial for building trust among farmers in digital initiatives. Transparent and accountable handling of data can encourage wider participation, leading to more effective agricultural planning and resource allocation. As the AgriStack project evolves, the SADGC will play a pivotal role in adapting national guidelines to Kerala's specific agricultural landscape, ensuring that the state's farming communities are served justly and efficiently.