PM-AASHA schemes to continue with additions: Centre
- Recently, the Union Cabinet approved the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA).
Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA)
- Objective
- Farmers: Ensure remunerative prices for farmers and protect them against price fluctuations.
- Consumers: Control the price volatility of essential commodities and make them available at affordable prices.
- Financial Outlay: ₹35,000 crore during the 15th Finance Commission Cycle up to 2025-26.
- Price Support Scheme (PSS) and Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) have been merged under PM-AASHA for improved efficiency and effectiveness.
- PM-AASHA now includes PSS, PSF, PDPS, and MIS.
Scheme Components
- Price Support Scheme (PSS): Provides support to farmers by purchasing crops at a minimum support price when market prices fall below this level.
- Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF): Used to stabilize prices of essential commodities to prevent price volatility.
- Price Deficit Payment Scheme (PDPS): Provides payments to farmers to cover the difference between the MSP and the monthly modal price/actual sale price subject to a maximum of 25% of the MSP value.
- Previously, the compensation was up to 25% of MSP, but the new limit will be 15%.
- Market Intervention Scheme (MIS): A price support mechanism for the procurement of perishable and horticultural commodities in the event of a market price drop.
Enhancements in PDPS
- Coverage: Enhanced from 25% to 40% of state production of oilseeds.
- Implementation Period: Extended from 3 months to 4 months to encourage more states to participate.
Prelims Takeaway
- Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA)
- Minimum Support Price (MSP)