Maharashtra extends Farmer ID to tenant and contract farmers without land in their name

The state government has given relief to lakhs of farmers who were denied a Farmer ID because their names did not appear in revenue records. Eligible farmers who cultivate leased land, who farm under an agreement, or who have been actually cultivating the land since before 1 January 2015 will now also get a Farmer ID.

The decision was taken by the government led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The Revenue Department has issued a government order laying down the new procedure. It is said that the decision was taken on the initiative of Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule. Farmers who had so far been left out of government schemes because of technical and revenue-related hurdles will, once they get a Farmer ID, be able to avail of benefits under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, crop insurance, natural disaster assistance and several agriculture schemes of the state government.

Eligibility has been set for farmers in four categories. The first category covers farmers who have been actually cultivating the land concerned since before 1 January 2015 and still hold possession of it. At least one valid document will be required for this. The second category covers farmers who cultivate land officially taken on lease. The third category is of farmers who cultivate under a formal agreement. The fourth category covers eligible farmers who have been allotted land by the government or who have received land through a legal land distribution process. Farmer ID can also be given in other similar and justified exceptional cases specified in the government order.

Documents will be verified at three levels before the ID is issued. At the first stage, the patwari will examine the village's old and current revenue records, receipts for payment of land revenue, the inam register, certificates, lease deeds, agreement deeds and land allotment orders. Copies of these documents must be uploaded on the AgriStack system. The list of eligible farmers will also be put up at the gram chaupal.

At the second stage, the circle officer (mandal adhikari) will re-examine the patwari's initial verification and also inspect the actual situation on the spot. At the third stage, the tehsildar will carry out the final check of the documents submitted by the patwari and the circle officer. After approval, a permanent Farmer ID will be issued for the farmer's agricultural land.