The Union Cabinet has allocated Rs. 35,000 crore for the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) project, spanning the 15th Finance Commission Cycle until 2025-26. This move tries to maintain fair prices for farmers while keeping consumer costs stable.
PM-AASHA combines the Price Support Scheme (PSS), Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF), Price Deficit Payment Scheme (PDPS), and Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) into a single program. Beginning with the 2024-25 season, the scheme will procure 25% of pulses, oilseeds, and copra at the Minimum Support Price. This season, Tur, Urad, and Masur pulses will be procured at 100%, reducing distress sales among farmers.
The government has also increased its procurement guarantee for pulses, oilseeds, and copra to Rs. 45,000 crores, assisting the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) in obtaining these commodities, particularly through platforms such as NAFED’s eSamridhi portal.
To keep prices stable and minimise hoarding, the PSF plan would manage buffer supplies of pulses and onions. The PDPS coverage for oilseeds would be increased to 40%, with the central government covering up to 15% of MSP. MIS will assist tomato, onion, and potato farmers with transportation and storage costs as well as cover 25% of their production expenses.
