The North News
New Delhi, March 11
The Indian government has approved the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) Scheme until 2025-26, aiming to ensure fair prices for farmers and stabilise the market for essential commodities. The scheme, launched to safeguard farmers against price volatility, includes direct procurement of pulses, oilseeds, and copra at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) through Central Nodal Agencies (CNAs).
In a move to enhance domestic production and reduce reliance on imports, the government has sanctioned procurement of Tur (Arhar), Urad, and Masur dal under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) for 2024-25, covering 100% of state production. The 2025 Budget further extended this measure for four more years, ensuring procurement until 2028-29.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has greenlit the purchase of 13.22 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of Tur, 9.40 LMT of Masur, and 1.35 LMT of Urad for the Kharif 2024-25 season. Procurement has already commenced in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Telangana, with 1.31 LMT of Tur purchased, benefiting 89,219 farmers so far. Operations will soon expand to Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.
The e-Samridhi portal of NAFED and a-Samyukti portal of NCCF have been integrated to streamline farmer registrations and payments. The government reaffirmed its commitment to procure 100% of Tur production through NAFED and NCCF, ensuring farmers receive remunerative prices.
