AP Govt Rolls Out QR Code, Blockchain-Based Pattadar Passbooks for Farmers

In a move aimed at strengthening the integrity of land records and improving transparency in the revenue system, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday launched the distribution of newly designed Pattadar Passbooks embedded with blockchain technology and QR-code security features .

The programme was held at Kothaburuzu village in the Done Assembly constituency of Nandyal district , where the Chief Minister personally handed over the updated land documents to several farmers. The initiative is part of the state government’s broader push to modernise land administration and create tamper-proof digital records.

During the event, Naidu demonstrated the upgraded land registration process by digitally recording the thumb impressions of two villagers , showing how biometric verification is linked to the land record system. He noted that the earlier system often forced farmers to make repeated visits to revenue offices to obtain land documents, sometimes facing delays and unofficial payments. With the new mechanism, the government aims to ensure that farmers receive their passbooks directly at their homes without paying any fees , eliminating opportunities for corruption.

Officials said the redesigned passbooks carry QR codes connected to digital land databases , allowing instant access to ownership details when scanned. The integration of blockchain technology ensures that once a land record is entered into the system, it cannot be altered without leaving a digital trace. According to the Chief Minister, this technology acts as a safeguard against manipulation and provides farmers with stronger protection over their property rights.

Naidu also used the occasion to criticise the previous government’s Land Titling Act , arguing that the law could have weakened farmers’ control over their land and limited their ability to challenge ownership disputes in court. He reiterated that his government scrapped the legislation immediately after assuming power, fulfilling a promise made during the election campaign.

The Chief Minister further alleged that large sums of public money were wasted earlier on initiatives such as engraving political photographs on land survey stones, claiming the expenditure ran into hundreds of crores.

Before addressing the public meeting, Naidu visited exhibition stalls set up by the Horticulture Department and interacted with farmers about cultivation practices and market trends. Farmers explained how protective techniques such as covering fruits to prevent pest attacks have helped improve crop quality and fetch better prices in the market. Praising the innovation shown by farmers, the Chief Minister instructed officials to encourage low-investment, high-return horticulture crops in the region.

He also emphasised the importance of groundwater conservation , directing district authorities to implement measures such as rainwater harvesting and improved water storage to raise groundwater levels and secure irrigation for agriculture.

Local public representatives, district officials and a large number of farmers attended the programme, marking the beginning of what the government says will be a statewide rollout of technologically secured land records .