Government approves continuation of the integrated Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) Scheme till 2025-26 during the 15th Finance Commission cycle.
Objectives
Features
To provide price assurance for pulses, oilseeds and copra, ensuring financial stability for farmers, reduce post-harvest distress selling & promote crop diversification towards pulses and oilseeds.
An umbrella scheme launched in 2018.
Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
Type: Central Sector Scheme
Fund allocated: Rs. 35,000 crores during 15th Finance Commission Cycle up to 2025-26.
Components of PM-AASHA:
Price Support Scheme (PSS): Notified Pulses, Oilseeds and Copra are procured at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) directly from the pre-registered farmers by the Central Nodal Agencies (CNAs) (through the State level agencies) given they conform to the prescribed Fair Average Quality (FAQ). Its key features are:
Provision Government Guarantee to lender banks by the Central Government: To extend cash credit facilities to CNAs for undertaking procurement operations.
The existing government guarantee has been renewed and enhanced to Rs. 45,000 crores.
Implemented on the request of the States/ UTs: that agree to exempt from levy of Mandi tax in the interest of farmers.
Procurementceiling: 25% of national Production of notified crops from 2024-25 season onwards.
Ceiling will not be applicable in case of Tur, Urad & Masur for 2024-25 season (100 % procurement during in 2024-25 season).
Price Stabilization Fund (PSF): It aims to provide working capital and other incidental expenses for procurement and distribution of agri-horticultural commodities. E.g. Tomato, subsidized retail sale of Bharat Dals, Bharat Atta and Bharat Rice.
Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) will procure pulses at market price when prices exceed MSP on-
eSamridhi portal ofNational Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and
eSamyukti portal of National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India (NCCF).
Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS): Envisages direct payment of the difference between the MSP and the selling/ modal price to pre-registered farmers selling oilseeds upto 15% of MSP value by the Central Government. Its key features are:
Beneficiaries: Pre-registered farmers selling the oilseedsup to 40% of its production through a transparent auction process.
Option with States/UTs: To implement either PSS or PDPS for the particular oilseeds for the particular year/season.
Market intervention Scheme (MIS): Aimed at bridging the price gap and countering the effect of price volatility in case of perishable agriculture/horticulture commodities such as Tomato, Onion and Potato (TOP) etc. not covered under MSP. Its key features are:
No need of physical procurement: States have an option to make differential payment between Market Intervention price (MIP) and selling price.
This is subject to coverage of 25% of production of crops and maximum price difference up to 25% of MIP.
Implemented on the request of the States/UTs: When there is a reduction of prices in the market by at least 10% over the rates of previous normal season in the States/UTs.
