Digital Agricultural Governance and Agricultural Modernization: Evaluating the E-Vaadagai Scheme in Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Digital governance becomes a vital part of modern agriculture as it aims to boost productivity, deliver better services and fortify farmer institutions. E-Vaadagai Scheme is a Tamil Nadu initiative of the State Government, which is a digital platform to enable farmers to access agricultural machinery and thereby modernize agriculture. This study assesses the part played by the Tamil Nadu State Government towards the agricultural modernization using the E-Vaadagai Scheme in Aranthangi Block of Pudukkattai District. A cross-sectional survey design of quantitative research was used. Primary data was collected through a structured interview schedule with 32 farmers and secondary data was taken from government reports and from literature. The collected data were analyzed descriptively, that is, the frequency and percentage analysis. The results showed that the working population knew about the E-Vaadagai Scheme 71.9 per cent, and had used it 59.4 per cent. The farmers felt that the scheme helped them in accessing agricultural machinery, less dependence on labour, efficiency, transparency and timely execution of agriculture activities. But some implementation problems emerged such as unavailability of agricultural machinery in the season, poor internet connectivity, administrative delays, lack of awareness of the scheme procedures, and lack of digital literacy. The study concludes that E-Vaadagai Scheme has positively contributed to agricultural modernization by enhancing the digital agricultural governance, and increased access to mechanization especially for the small and marginal farmers. However, there is a need to strengthen digital infrastructure, farmer capacity development, coordination and awareness-building efforts, in order to ensure optimal effectiveness and sustainability of state-supported digital agricultural programs. The results were added to the existing body of knowledge on digital governance and agricultural modernization and have provided policy suggestions to improve digital agriculture in Tamil Nadu and similar agrarian regions.