The Narendra Modi government is implementing the integrated ‘Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan’ (PM-AASHA) to ensure remunerative prices for farmers and making essential commodities available for consumers at affordable prices.
The primary objective of PM-AASHA is to safeguard farmers against distress sales by ensuring procurement at MSP. Under PSS, procurement of eligible commodities conforming to the prescribed Fair Average Quality (FAQ) standards is undertaken by designated Central Nodal Agencies (CNAs) i.e. National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED) and National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Ltd. (NCCF), which operates through State-level agencies, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ramnath Thakur said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
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The scheme’s components are Price Support Scheme (PSS) and Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF), along with Price Deficit Payment Scheme (PDPS) and Market Intervention Scheme (MIS).
PSS is operationalized on the request of the state/UT governments when market prices of notified pulses, oilseeds, and copra fall below the notified Minimum Support Price (MSP) during the peak harvesting period, the minister said.
Procurement, he said, is carried out directly from pre-registered farmers who possess valid land records, thereby eliminating the role of intermediaries and ensuring that the benefits of MSP accrue directly to farmers.
The Department of Consumer Affairs administers the PSF component of integrated PM-AASHA with an objective of protecting consumers from volatility in prices of agri-horticultural commodities and ensuring availability at affordable prices.
The commodities procured under PSF buffer are released in a calibrated manner during low supply and lean season.
The government maintains the buffer stocks of major pulses such as Tur, Urad, Chana, Moong, Masur and onion under PSF. The integrated implementation of PSS and PSF under PM-AASHA ensures a balanced approach that supports farmers through assured procurement at MSP and addresses consumer interests through price stabilization measures, contributing to both farmer welfare and food price stability, the minister said.
Under PM-AASHA, the government provides support to farmers well before the commencement of procurement operations through CNAs, state governments, and their designated agencies.
To facilitate farmer participation and smooth registration, extensive awareness generation and publicity activities are undertaken in advance of the procurement season by CNAs, state governments, and primary procuring agencies through media, Thakur added.