In India's digital records today, there is a serious agricultural scenario at its peak — one that cannot be easily seen or measured. It is known as Agriculture Fraud.
This is not merely a numbers game or financial manipulation. It is a cruel blow to a farmer’s daily bread, his growing debt, and his last hope for a better future. Every aspect of this fraud brings its own pain. On one side, the farmer loses his hard-earned money and investment. On the other, government funds meant for farmers are being looted. Then there is the daily struggle for survival. And finally, there is the rising digital deception that is now targeting almost every farmer in the country.
Let us examine the different sides of this unfortunate situation in Indian agriculture, based on the latest reports from 2024–2025.
Fake seed scams:
Fake seed scams directly destroy a farmer’s crop, increase his debt burden, and push the entire family into severe distress. Farmers often pay extra money in the market believing they are buying high-quality or organic seeds. However, what they actually receive are fake seeds that frequently fail to germinate.
According to the latest 2024-25 reports, a total of 2.53 lakh seed samples were tested across the country. Out of these, 32,525 samples were found to be substandard. The highest number of such cases was reported in West Bengal with 24,460 substandard samples, followed by Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh.
Fraudsters sell these fake seeds by using duplicate packaging of well-known brands in local markets. Expired seeds are repacked into new covers and treated with harmful dyes to make them appear fresh and vibrant. For instance, green dye is used on moong seeds, while red dye is applied on barley and guar seeds. In Madhya Pradesh, the Congress party has alleged an annual scam of ₹10,000 crore, in which substandard seeds are being sold as “superior hybrid” seeds.Large seed rackets have also been uncovered in Telangana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Nanded in Maharashtra. In these operations, traders bring cheap seeds from Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, paste fake labels on them, and sell them at higher prices.
The harsh reality is that farmers take loans from banks to buy these seeds, only to see their fields produce nothing but dust instead of a healthy crop.
According to the latest 2024-25 reports, a total of 2.53 lakh seed samples were tested across the country. Out of these, 32,525 samples were found to be substandard. The highest number of such cases was reported in West Bengal with 24,460 substandard samples, followed by Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh.
Fraudsters sell these fake seeds by using duplicate packaging of well-known brands in local markets. Expired seeds are repacked into new covers and treated with harmful dyes to make them appear fresh and vibrant. For instance, green dye is used on moong seeds, while red dye is applied on barley and guar seeds. In Madhya Pradesh, the Congress party has alleged an annual scam of ₹10,000 crore, in which substandard seeds are being sold as “superior hybrid” seeds.Large seed rackets have also been uncovered in Telangana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Nanded in Maharashtra. In these operations, traders bring cheap seeds from Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, paste fake labels on them, and sell them at higher prices.
The harsh reality is that farmers take loans from banks to buy these seeds, only to see their fields produce nothing but dust instead of a healthy crop.
PM-Kisan Yojana and Ghost Beneficiaries:
Another form of this loot is the widespread fraud involving ghost beneficiaries in the PM-Kisan Yojana. Government scheme money is siphoned off before it can even reach the real farmers.
In Manipur, ₹65.49 crore was wrongly paid to 1.91 lakh ineligible ghost beneficiaries. Many of them had no proper documents, and even income tax payers received the money. Shockingly, the recovery rate has been zero.
In Rajasthan, a scam involving PM-Kisan funds and pensions came to light where more than 11,000 suspicious accounts were identified. As a result, 51 people, including government officials and CSC operators, were arrested.
In Bhagalpur, Bihar, a cyber gang cheated over 8,000 PM-Kisan beneficiaries by using fake e-KYC and OTP fraud.
Across the country, there are more than 31 lakh suspected cases where husband and wife both receive payments, or where the name of the original landowner is missing from the records. In many cases, the person whose name appears in the system is not even a real farmer, while the actual farmer is left standing in long queues, waiting for help that never reaches him.
Another form of this loot is the widespread fraud involving ghost beneficiaries in the PM-Kisan Yojana. Government scheme money is siphoned off before it can even reach the real farmers.
In Manipur, ₹65.49 crore was wrongly paid to 1.91 lakh ineligible ghost beneficiaries. Many of them had no proper documents, and even income tax payers received the money. Shockingly, the recovery rate has been zero.
In Rajasthan, a scam involving PM-Kisan funds and pensions came to light where more than 11,000 suspicious accounts were identified. As a result, 51 people, including government officials and CSC operators, were arrested.
In Bhagalpur, Bihar, a cyber gang cheated over 8,000 PM-Kisan beneficiaries by using fake e-KYC and OTP fraud.
Across the country, there are more than 31 lakh suspected cases where husband and wife both receive payments, or where the name of the original landowner is missing from the records. In many cases, the person whose name appears in the system is not even a real farmer, while the actual farmer is left standing in long queues, waiting for help that never reaches him.
Fertilizer Black Marketing
Fertilizer black marketing is one of the most relatable and painful deceptions for farmers. Godowns remain full of stock, yet farmers are forced to stand in long queues under the scorching sun, only to buy the same fertilizer at double the price from the black market.
In Rajasthan, raids were conducted on 30 factories where fake fertilizer was being manufactured by mixing marble slurry, stone dust, soil, and colours, and then sold under the names of reputed brands.
In Andhra Pradesh, artificial shortages were deliberately created to run a black market scam worth ₹200-250 crore.
Since April 2025, more than 4.30 lakh raids have been carried out across the country. During this period, 15,544 show-cause notices were issued, 6,620 licenses were cancelled, and 794 FIRs were registered.
Despite these actions, hidden camera investigations in areas like Morena in Madhya Pradesh have revealed that officials and middlemen continue to collude and sell fertilizer on the black market.
Fertilizer black marketing is one of the most relatable and painful deceptions for farmers. Godowns remain full of stock, yet farmers are forced to stand in long queues under the scorching sun, only to buy the same fertilizer at double the price from the black market.
In Rajasthan, raids were conducted on 30 factories where fake fertilizer was being manufactured by mixing marble slurry, stone dust, soil, and colours, and then sold under the names of reputed brands.
In Andhra Pradesh, artificial shortages were deliberately created to run a black market scam worth ₹200-250 crore.
Since April 2025, more than 4.30 lakh raids have been carried out across the country. During this period, 15,544 show-cause notices were issued, 6,620 licenses were cancelled, and 794 FIRs were registered.
Despite these actions, hidden camera investigations in areas like Morena in Madhya Pradesh have revealed that officials and middlemen continue to collude and sell fertilizer on the black market.
Digital Mandi and Payment Fraud
One of the most trending frauds these days is digital mandi and payment fraud. Today, almost every farmer uses a smartphone, but fraud has also become digital.Fraudsters trick farmers by asking them to scan fake QR codes or UPI IDs in the name of “advance payment” and then empty their bank accounts. Fake agri-apps offer crop advice and mandi prices, but secretly steal farmers’ personal data and later involve them in trading or crypto scams.
As the saying goes, “Scamming became the new farming.” In cybercrime villages, people are now openly targeting farmers. Fake PM-Kisan APK files and herbal plant trading scams are also spreading rapidly.
UPI fraud is causing losses worth lakhs of crores of rupees, and farmers are the biggest victims because they trust anything that comes in the name of “government mandi.”
A farmer goes to a digital mandi to sell his crop, only to end up getting his own bank account sold.
One of the most trending frauds these days is digital mandi and payment fraud. Today, almost every farmer uses a smartphone, but fraud has also become digital.Fraudsters trick farmers by asking them to scan fake QR codes or UPI IDs in the name of “advance payment” and then empty their bank accounts. Fake agri-apps offer crop advice and mandi prices, but secretly steal farmers’ personal data and later involve them in trading or crypto scams.
As the saying goes, “Scamming became the new farming.” In cybercrime villages, people are now openly targeting farmers. Fake PM-Kisan APK files and herbal plant trading scams are also spreading rapidly.
UPI fraud is causing losses worth lakhs of crores of rupees, and farmers are the biggest victims because they trust anything that comes in the name of “government mandi.”
A farmer goes to a digital mandi to sell his crop, only to end up getting his own bank account sold.
However, all these smaller scams become fully clear only when we reach the biggest and most intelligent fraud in agriculture — the Paper Farmer Scam. This is the real face of the system versus the farmer, where the actual farmer exists, the land is real, the crops are real, but all the benefits are cleverly diverted to fake “paper farmers”.
This fraud makes every scam mentioned earlier even deeper and more widespread. It serves as the main mechanism through which government scheme funds are systematically looted.
In this scam, there is a real farmer, real farmland, and real crops that grow — yet all the benefits and subsidies go into the hands of fake “paper farmers”. This is the largest, most sophisticated, and most dangerous game in the entire agriculture fraud ecosystem.
This fraud makes every scam mentioned earlier even deeper and more widespread. It serves as the main mechanism through which government scheme funds are systematically looted.
In this scam, there is a real farmer, real farmland, and real crops that grow — yet all the benefits and subsidies go into the hands of fake “paper farmers”. This is the largest, most sophisticated, and most dangerous game in the entire agriculture fraud ecosystem.
What is Paper Farmer Fraud?
Paper farmers, also known as ghost farmers or fake farmers, are fictitious farmers who exist only on paper and in official documents, but do not actually cultivate any land. Fake entries are made in land records such as the 7/12 extract, or names are added to old records.
In the name of these “farmers”, crop insurance policies are taken (where premiums are deducted from the government or real farmers), Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) and farm loans are obtained, and money from PM-Kisan subsidies or MSP procurement is transferred. Sometimes, even deceased persons, people with no land, or city residents are shown as “farmers”.
It is called “paper” fraud because everything appears correct on documents and in digital records, but nothing exists on the ground — no real fields, no crops, and no actual farmer.
This is a systematic loot of government funds:
These scams are not limited to just a few crores. They form a large and well-organized system in which fake “paper farmers” are created on records to systematically siphon off money from government schemes. Real farmers are deprived of insurance claims, subsidies, and other benefits, while the people running this racket — officials, agents, and middlemen — make huge profits.
Paper farmers, also known as ghost farmers or fake farmers, are fictitious farmers who exist only on paper and in official documents, but do not actually cultivate any land. Fake entries are made in land records such as the 7/12 extract, or names are added to old records.
In the name of these “farmers”, crop insurance policies are taken (where premiums are deducted from the government or real farmers), Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) and farm loans are obtained, and money from PM-Kisan subsidies or MSP procurement is transferred. Sometimes, even deceased persons, people with no land, or city residents are shown as “farmers”.
It is called “paper” fraud because everything appears correct on documents and in digital records, but nothing exists on the ground — no real fields, no crops, and no actual farmer.
This is a systematic loot of government funds:
These scams are not limited to just a few crores. They form a large and well-organized system in which fake “paper farmers” are created on records to systematically siphon off money from government schemes. Real farmers are deprived of insurance claims, subsidies, and other benefits, while the people running this racket — officials, agents, and middlemen — make huge profits.
Uttar Pradesh Crop Insurance Scam (PMFBY):
In a major fraud under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), Dainik Bhaskar’s ground investigation exposed a ₹37 crore scam in Mahoba district between 2023 and 2025. Fake land records were created by showing forests, hills, rivers, drainage areas, and rocky lands as “cultivable fields”.
More than 2.5 lakh fake farmers were created in the records. Some of these fake entries had addresses linked to Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, along with fabricated names, fathers’ names, and addresses. Premiums were paid by the fraudsters themselves, and fake claims of ₹2–4 lakh each were filed and settled.
The land record numbers of real farmers were reused, which deprived genuine farmers of their rightful claims. Beneficiary lists were never displayed in the villages so that no one would come to know about the fraud.
Those involved included clerks from the Agriculture Department (such as Devendra Rajput), insurance agents (including managers from IFFCO Tokio), and operators of public service centres. A total of 31 people were arrested, but many fake “farmers” had already fled with the money.
Real farmers started protesting when they did not receive their claims, while the money had already been transferred to the fake accounts. This scam clearly shows how weak the verification process is — there is a severe shortage of satellite image checks and physical verification on the ground.
In a major fraud under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), Dainik Bhaskar’s ground investigation exposed a ₹37 crore scam in Mahoba district between 2023 and 2025. Fake land records were created by showing forests, hills, rivers, drainage areas, and rocky lands as “cultivable fields”.
More than 2.5 lakh fake farmers were created in the records. Some of these fake entries had addresses linked to Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, along with fabricated names, fathers’ names, and addresses. Premiums were paid by the fraudsters themselves, and fake claims of ₹2–4 lakh each were filed and settled.
The land record numbers of real farmers were reused, which deprived genuine farmers of their rightful claims. Beneficiary lists were never displayed in the villages so that no one would come to know about the fraud.
Those involved included clerks from the Agriculture Department (such as Devendra Rajput), insurance agents (including managers from IFFCO Tokio), and operators of public service centres. A total of 31 people were arrested, but many fake “farmers” had already fled with the money.
Real farmers started protesting when they did not receive their claims, while the money had already been transferred to the fake accounts. This scam clearly shows how weak the verification process is — there is a severe shortage of satellite image checks and physical verification on the ground.
PM-Kisan Scheme Scams – The “Paper Farmer” Game Worth Thousands of Crores
The biggest “paper farmer” scam in the PM-Kisan scheme was exposed through a Scroll.in investigation in Assam. At the state level, the fraud exceeds ₹500 crore, with an estimated nationwide loss reaching up to ₹3,000 crore. More than 15 lakh ineligible beneficiaries (8.3 lakh nationwide) received payments.
In the rush to add names before elections, officials shared their usernames and passwords, and fake entries were openly sold in the black market at Common Service Centres (CSCs) for ₹100–500 each. Aadhaar was made optional and land details were deliberately left blank. Minors, deceased persons, non-farmers, government employees, and multiple accounts in the name of a single person were all registered as “paper farmers”. As a result, 72% of these beneficiaries remained untraceable.
The hidden truth is that there was heavy pressure to show a large vote bank. Only ₹1.5 crore has been recovered so far — and that too only from rich beneficiaries, not from the poor fake “farmers”.
In Tamil Nadu, ₹110 crore was paid to 5.51 lakh ineligible beneficiaries, many of whom were landless or government employees.
In Rajasthan’s Pali district, 29,000 fake accounts were created, with 20,000 of them in Desuri alone. Shockingly, Muslim names were used to open accounts in completely Hindu villages where no Muslims live. Another ₹7 crore was transferred to accounts in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.
The biggest “paper farmer” scam in the PM-Kisan scheme was exposed through a Scroll.in investigation in Assam. At the state level, the fraud exceeds ₹500 crore, with an estimated nationwide loss reaching up to ₹3,000 crore. More than 15 lakh ineligible beneficiaries (8.3 lakh nationwide) received payments.
In the rush to add names before elections, officials shared their usernames and passwords, and fake entries were openly sold in the black market at Common Service Centres (CSCs) for ₹100–500 each. Aadhaar was made optional and land details were deliberately left blank. Minors, deceased persons, non-farmers, government employees, and multiple accounts in the name of a single person were all registered as “paper farmers”. As a result, 72% of these beneficiaries remained untraceable.
The hidden truth is that there was heavy pressure to show a large vote bank. Only ₹1.5 crore has been recovered so far — and that too only from rich beneficiaries, not from the poor fake “farmers”.
In Tamil Nadu, ₹110 crore was paid to 5.51 lakh ineligible beneficiaries, many of whom were landless or government employees.
In Rajasthan’s Pali district, 29,000 fake accounts were created, with 20,000 of them in Desuri alone. Shockingly, Muslim names were used to open accounts in completely Hindu villages where no Muslims live. Another ₹7 crore was transferred to accounts in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.
Ghost Procurement Scam – Haryana Paddy Ghotala
According to reporting by Tribune India, a “ghost procurement” scam was taking place in Karnal and other mandis of Haryana. Records showed that paddy had been purchased, but no paddy actually arrived physically at the mandis.
Fake gate passes were generated from multiple IP addresses, including from outside locations and even restaurant WiFi. Farmers without any land or with fake IDs were registered on the Meri Fasal Mera Byora portal. Millers, commission agents, and market committee secretaries were colluding to siphon off MSP payments. Even during floods, higher arrivals were shown in the records.
More than 25 officials have been arrested, and the investigation is still ongoing. This scam clearly shows how dangerous it is to rely only on paper records instead of proper physical verification in the procurement process.
Other Major Patterns:
-In Maharashtra, CSC operators filed more than 27,000 bogus banana crop insurance claims without any actual crop being grown.
-In Rajasthan, there are allegations of a ₹1,150 crore scam involving fake farmers and collusion between banks and insurance companies.
-In Kanpur, insurance claims were also paid to landless farmers.
According to reporting by Tribune India, a “ghost procurement” scam was taking place in Karnal and other mandis of Haryana. Records showed that paddy had been purchased, but no paddy actually arrived physically at the mandis.
Fake gate passes were generated from multiple IP addresses, including from outside locations and even restaurant WiFi. Farmers without any land or with fake IDs were registered on the Meri Fasal Mera Byora portal. Millers, commission agents, and market committee secretaries were colluding to siphon off MSP payments. Even during floods, higher arrivals were shown in the records.
More than 25 officials have been arrested, and the investigation is still ongoing. This scam clearly shows how dangerous it is to rely only on paper records instead of proper physical verification in the procurement process.
Other Major Patterns:
-In Maharashtra, CSC operators filed more than 27,000 bogus banana crop insurance claims without any actual crop being grown.
-In Rajasthan, there are allegations of a ₹1,150 crore scam involving fake farmers and collusion between banks and insurance companies.
-In Kanpur, insurance claims were also paid to landless farmers.
Zero-Landlord Scam:
Some people show barren or wasteland as “fertile agricultural land” on paper and take heavy crop loans against it. The paper farmer knows in advance that the loan will never be repaid. They simply wait for the government to announce a loan waiver.
Identity Theft:
Big middlemen or corrupt officials steal or make copies of poor farmers’ Aadhaar cards and land records. They show in government records that the farmer has taken a loan or received a subsidy. However, the real farmer remains completely unaware. The money is quietly transferred to someone else’s fake account.
Some people show barren or wasteland as “fertile agricultural land” on paper and take heavy crop loans against it. The paper farmer knows in advance that the loan will never be repaid. They simply wait for the government to announce a loan waiver.
Identity Theft:
Big middlemen or corrupt officials steal or make copies of poor farmers’ Aadhaar cards and land records. They show in government records that the farmer has taken a loan or received a subsidy. However, the real farmer remains completely unaware. The money is quietly transferred to someone else’s fake account.
Systemic Issues That Allow Fraud to Thrive:
Land records are still not fully digitized and can be easily manipulated during the consolidation process. Middlemen such as CSC operators, agents, and clerks often work without any physical verification. There is political pressure to rapidly increase the number of beneficiaries before elections. Beneficiary lists are rarely displayed publicly in villages. Whistleblowers face pressure and threats. Verification systems remain weak — Aadhaar linking with land records is poor, and satellite or drone-based checks are not yet fully effective.
Real Impact on Genuine Farmers:
Real farmers often face rejected or delayed insurance claims. Their rightful share of subsidies, loans, and MSP benefits is stolen. This leads to growing frustration, frequent protests, and a complete loss of trust in government schemes. Small and marginal farmers are the worst affected because they heavily depend on middlemen for accessing these benefits.
It is essential to view these past case studies through a modern lens. In 2026, the farmer stands exactly where they were decades ago—facing the same betrayal and the same 'Invisible Crisis.' Nothing has changed, except that the predators have traded their ledgers for algorithms and their excuses for 'technical glitches'.
2026: New Year, Same Crimes (The Perpetual Crisis):
Digitalization was promised as the cure for the 'Invisible Crisis,' but 2026 proves that corruption hasn't disappeared—it has only upgraded its tools. The calendar has changed, but the exploitation remains constant. Today’s fraud is simply more 'high-tech'."
Digital Dacoity: Corruption has migrated from paperwork to algorithms. Recent 2025-26 reports of 'Ghost Farmers' diverting subsidies prove that the system’s eyes are now covered with digital blindfolds.
The Organic Trap: While the world shifts toward sustainability, the late 2025 'Bio-Certificate' rackets expose a dark reality: poison is still being sold under the guise of purity.
Insuring the Loss, Not the Farmer: Climate change hits the farmers, but insurance companies reap the rewards. The 2026 'Crop Loss Assessment' scandals repeat the same old story—middlemen profiting from a farmer's ruin.
Seed Recycling Rackets: Selling agricultural waste in branded packaging remains a thriving business. Systemic loopholes in licensing have trapped farmers in a cycle where the seeds might look new, but the outcome is the same old disaster.
Government Initiatives: A Shield or a Shadow?
The government is now increasing Aadhaar seeding, satellite imagery, and geo-tagging to curb these frauds. Blacklisting, FIRs, and recovery processes are also being carried out. In Maharashtra, farmers involved in fake claims are being blacklisted.
However, investigative reports by Dainik Bhaskar, Scroll.in, Tribune, and Frontline reveal that the collusion is so deep that everything continues to look correct on paper. These scams snatch away the rights of real farmers and waste taxpayers’ money.
In our country, a farmer is called ‘Annadata’ — the giver of food. But these investigative reports clearly show that people sitting in the system treat them only as ‘Data’ — something that can be manipulated whenever needed. The aim of Digital India was to bring transparency, but even after using satellite imagery and Aadhaar, if crops are shown growing in rivers and rocky areas, it proves that the problem is not in technology but in dishonest intentions.
The bitter truth that often remains hidden is this: the farmer grows crops, while these people grow only papers, and the system supports them. Until strict physical verification, strong accountability of CSC operators, and public dashboards are put in place, this systematic loot will continue. Scamming has now become more profitable than actual farming.
The government has taken steps such as Aadhaar seeding, land record digitization, satellite imagery, and geo-tagging to stop ghost beneficiaries and fake claims. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and e-KYC have been made mandatory in PM-Kisan, and the Draft Seeds Bill 2025 has been introduced to control fake seeds.
However, all these measures will only work when the collusion of middlemen ends, physical verification becomes strict, and clear accountability is fixed for CSC operators. Even now, major weaknesses remain in the system that continue to deprive genuine farmers of their rights.
Land records are still not fully digitized and can be easily manipulated during the consolidation process. Middlemen such as CSC operators, agents, and clerks often work without any physical verification. There is political pressure to rapidly increase the number of beneficiaries before elections. Beneficiary lists are rarely displayed publicly in villages. Whistleblowers face pressure and threats. Verification systems remain weak — Aadhaar linking with land records is poor, and satellite or drone-based checks are not yet fully effective.
Real Impact on Genuine Farmers:
Real farmers often face rejected or delayed insurance claims. Their rightful share of subsidies, loans, and MSP benefits is stolen. This leads to growing frustration, frequent protests, and a complete loss of trust in government schemes. Small and marginal farmers are the worst affected because they heavily depend on middlemen for accessing these benefits.
It is essential to view these past case studies through a modern lens. In 2026, the farmer stands exactly where they were decades ago—facing the same betrayal and the same 'Invisible Crisis.' Nothing has changed, except that the predators have traded their ledgers for algorithms and their excuses for 'technical glitches'.
2026: New Year, Same Crimes (The Perpetual Crisis):
Digitalization was promised as the cure for the 'Invisible Crisis,' but 2026 proves that corruption hasn't disappeared—it has only upgraded its tools. The calendar has changed, but the exploitation remains constant. Today’s fraud is simply more 'high-tech'."
Digital Dacoity: Corruption has migrated from paperwork to algorithms. Recent 2025-26 reports of 'Ghost Farmers' diverting subsidies prove that the system’s eyes are now covered with digital blindfolds.
The Organic Trap: While the world shifts toward sustainability, the late 2025 'Bio-Certificate' rackets expose a dark reality: poison is still being sold under the guise of purity.
Insuring the Loss, Not the Farmer: Climate change hits the farmers, but insurance companies reap the rewards. The 2026 'Crop Loss Assessment' scandals repeat the same old story—middlemen profiting from a farmer's ruin.
Seed Recycling Rackets: Selling agricultural waste in branded packaging remains a thriving business. Systemic loopholes in licensing have trapped farmers in a cycle where the seeds might look new, but the outcome is the same old disaster.
Government Initiatives: A Shield or a Shadow?
The government is now increasing Aadhaar seeding, satellite imagery, and geo-tagging to curb these frauds. Blacklisting, FIRs, and recovery processes are also being carried out. In Maharashtra, farmers involved in fake claims are being blacklisted.
However, investigative reports by Dainik Bhaskar, Scroll.in, Tribune, and Frontline reveal that the collusion is so deep that everything continues to look correct on paper. These scams snatch away the rights of real farmers and waste taxpayers’ money.
In our country, a farmer is called ‘Annadata’ — the giver of food. But these investigative reports clearly show that people sitting in the system treat them only as ‘Data’ — something that can be manipulated whenever needed. The aim of Digital India was to bring transparency, but even after using satellite imagery and Aadhaar, if crops are shown growing in rivers and rocky areas, it proves that the problem is not in technology but in dishonest intentions.
The bitter truth that often remains hidden is this: the farmer grows crops, while these people grow only papers, and the system supports them. Until strict physical verification, strong accountability of CSC operators, and public dashboards are put in place, this systematic loot will continue. Scamming has now become more profitable than actual farming.
The government has taken steps such as Aadhaar seeding, land record digitization, satellite imagery, and geo-tagging to stop ghost beneficiaries and fake claims. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and e-KYC have been made mandatory in PM-Kisan, and the Draft Seeds Bill 2025 has been introduced to control fake seeds.
However, all these measures will only work when the collusion of middlemen ends, physical verification becomes strict, and clear accountability is fixed for CSC operators. Even now, major weaknesses remain in the system that continue to deprive genuine farmers of their rights.
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