Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA)

Key Highlights:

• Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) is India's flagship price-support framework for farmers, launched in September 2018.
• It aims to ensure remunerative prices, strengthen Minimum Support Price (MSP) implementation, and reduce distress sales.
• The scheme comprises four components: Price Support Scheme (PSS), Price Stabilization Fund (PSF), Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS), and Market Intervention Scheme (MIS).
• Procurement of pulses, oilseeds, and copra is primarily undertaken by agencies like NAFED and NCCF.
• A budget allocation of ₹7,200 crore is provided for 2026–27, reflecting enhanced financial support for the scheme.
• Digital reforms, including Aadhaar-enabled authentication and e-NAM, have improved transparency and procurement efficiency.

Detailed Insights:

• PSS ensures procurement of crops at MSP when market prices fall below it, mainly covering pulses, oilseeds, and copra.
• Under PSS, procurement is initially allowed up to 25% of a State/UT’s production, with Tur, Urad, and Masur permitted up to 100% to boost domestic output.
• PSF protects consumers from price volatility by maintaining buffer stocks of essential commodities like pulses, onions, and potatoes, now merged with PM-AASHA.
• PDPS provides farmers with the price difference between MSP and the actual market price directly into their bank accounts, without physical procurement.
• MIS procures perishable agricultural and horticultural commodities (e.g., tomatoes, onions, potatoes) when market prices drop significantly, where MSP does not apply.
• The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) has sanctioned loans worth ₹96,426 crore, strengthening agricultural marketing and post-harvest infrastructure.
• The e-NAM platform has integrated 1,656 mandis across 23 States and 4 Union Territories, facilitating significant trade and onboarding FPOs.
• PM-AASHA ensures MSP consistently exceeds the cost of production, strengthening farmer income security and encouraging sustained cultivation.
• Recent reforms include biometric farmer authentication, direct procurement from pre-registered farmers, and transportation support for TOP crops.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA): A government scheme launched in 2018 to ensure remunerative prices for farmers through various price support mechanisms.
• Minimum Support Price (MSP): A guaranteed price set by the government for agricultural produce to protect farmers against sharp falls in market prices.
• Price Support Scheme (PSS): A component of PM-AASHA involving physical procurement of crops like pulses, oilseeds, and copra at MSP by government agencies.
• Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS): A component of PM-AASHA where farmers receive the difference between MSP and market price directly, without physical procurement.