Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA)
Why in News?
In March 2026, the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) is in the news primarily due to fresh budgetary allocations for the 2026-27 fiscal year and ongoing large-scale procurement operations across several states.
Key Information
The scheme continues to operate through its refined sub-components to ensure farmers receive at least 1.5 times their production cost:
- Price Support Scheme (PSS):
- Physical procurement of pulses, oilseeds, and copra by central agencies like NAFED and NCCF at the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
- Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS):
- Covers oilseeds where no physical procurement occurs; instead, farmers are compensated for the difference between MSP and the market price.
- The coverage for state production has been enhanced to 40% to encourage wider adoption by state governments.
- Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF):
- Maintains strategic buffer stocks (notably for pulses and onions) to regulate extreme price volatility for consumers.
- Market Intervention Scheme (MIS):
- Extended to cover 25% of production for perishable horticultural crops.
- Includes a new option for direct differential payments to farmers' accounts instead of physical procurement.
Strategic Objectives for 2026
- Reducing Import Dependency: By guaranteeing 100% procurement for key pulses, the government aims to significantly cut down on expensive imports.
- Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): Increasing use of direct payments to farmers' accounts under both MIS and PDPS to reduce middlemen and ensure transparency.
- Consumer Protection: Managing the price gap for TOP crops (Tomato, Onion, Potato) by bearing transportation and storage costs between producing and consuming states.
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