PM Aasha
PM Aasha
Sep 2018
The Government has approved a new umbrella scheme “Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay
Sanrakshan Abhiyan” (PM-AASHA) which will provide Minimum Support Price (MSP)
assurance to farmers.
The Scheme is aimed at ensuring remunerative prices to the farmers for their
produce as announced in the Union Budget for 2018.
The increase in MSP can improve farmer’s income by strengthening procurement
mechanism in coordination with the State Governments.
Components of PM-AASHA
Under the PSS, Central nodal agencies will procure pulses, oilseeds and copra with
proactive role of state governments.
The Food corporation of India (FCI) and the National Agricultural Cooperative
Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) will help implement the scheme.
The procurement expenditure and losses due to procurement will be borne by Central
Government as per norms.
The government will procure 25% of the marketable surplus of farmers for eligible
crops.
The Centre has made a provision of about Rs 16,000 crores to be provided as bank
guarantee for the agencies to procure from farmers.
Under the PDPS, the state will provide the difference between the prices prevailing in
mandis and the MSP.
All oil-seeds are to be covered under PDPS.
This scheme is modelled on the Bhawantar Bhugtan Yojana that has been
implemented by the Madhya Pradesh state government as well as Bhavantar Bharpai
Yojana of Haryana Government.
There will be no physical procurement of crops.
In lieu of PSS and PDPS, in certain pilot districts the PPPS will be tried out.
Private agencies will procure oilseeds in coordination with the government.
The selected private agency shall procure the commodity at MSP in the notified
markets during the notified period from the registered farmers in consonance with the
PPSS Guidelines, whenever the prices in the market fall below the notified MSP and
whenever authorized by the state/UT government.
Way forward
Effective price support operations for safeguarding the interests of the farmers.
Distribution of foodgrains throughout the country for public distribution system.
Maintaining satisfactory level of operational and buffer stocks of foodgrains to ensure
National Food Security.