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Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA)
Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) is in the news as a mechanism to support farmers through assured procurement, price stabilization, and market interventions. The programme comprises multiple components linked to MSP implementation and market-based support measures.
Key Facts of PM-AASHA:
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Launch | PM-AASHA has been launched in September 2018. |
| Purpose | PM-AASHA provides for strengthening the implementation of Minimum Support Price (MSP) and ensuring remunerative prices for farmers. |
| Components | PM-AASHA comprises Price Support Scheme (PSS), Price Stabilization Fund (PSF), Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS), and Market Intervention Scheme (MIS). |
| Price Support Scheme (PSS): Trigger and coverage | PSS provides for procurement of crops at MSP when market prices fall below MSP during harvest, and it mainly covers pulses, oilseeds, and copra. |
| Price Support Scheme (PSS): Implementing agencies | PSS provides for procurement through agencies such as the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Limited (NCCF) at the request of state governments. |
| Price Support Scheme (PSS): Eligibility | PSS applies to only registered farmers with valid land records. |
| Price Stabilization Fund (PSF): Mechanism and commodities | PSF provides for maintaining buffer stocks of essential commodities like pulses, onions, and potatoes to protect consumers from price volatility. |
| Price Stabilization Fund (PSF): Operations | PSF provides for procuring commodities during harvest and releasing them in lean seasons to control price spikes and ensure affordability. |
| Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS): Payment design | PDPS provides for paying farmers the price difference between the MSP and the actual market price in the notified market, up to 15% of the MSP value, directly into their bank accounts, without physical procurement. |
| Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS): Coverage | PDPS mainly applies to oilseeds. |
| Market Intervention Scheme (MIS): Coverage and target products | MIS provides for procuring a range of perishable agricultural and horticultural commodities, and it targets products such as tomatoes, onions, and potatoes for which a Minimum Support Price does not apply. |
| Market Intervention Scheme (MIS): Activation condition | MIS activates when market prices drop by at least 10% over the previous normal season’s rates. |
| Market Intervention Scheme (MIS): Cost-sharing and agencies | MIS provides for cost-sharing between the Centre and State governments for operations undertaken by Central Nodal Agencies like NAFED and NCCF. |