States flag data access hurdles at NRAA rainfed farming consultation

Representatives from Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar raised concerns about data accessibility during a national consultation organised by the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) on 8 July 2026 at the NASC Complex, PUSA, New Delhi, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare said.

The one-day consultation, titled “Quality Data Generation and Dissemination for Efficient Project Planning and Implementation in Rainfed Areas of India,” was structured around two technical sessions. The second session focused specifically on data requirements for project planning and the bottlenecks users face in acquiring it, with state-level participants actively raising their concerns.

The first session covered data collection and storage and dissemination challenges, featuring presentations from IMD, NBSSLUP, BISA-IARI, IWMI, MNCFC and CRIDA on the datasets they generate and maintain.

Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar, CEO of NRAA, said the authority organised the consultation to understand data needs at the grassroots level and provide a platform for state functionaries to access the data required to plan effective projects for the sustainable development of rainfed areas. He added that standardised, easily accessible data is essential for making government programmes more impactful and outcome-oriented.

The ministry said quality, reliable and accessible data forms the foundation of effective planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development work in rainfed regions, which depend on datasets covering rainfall, soils, land use, water resources, crop performance and climate risks.