NEW DELHI, Feb 17: The government has given the green light for the extension of the integrated Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) scheme throughout the 15th Finance Commission cycle, set to last until 2025-26.
An official announcement indicates that the integrated PM-AASHA scheme is designed to enhance procurement operations, which are vital for ensuring fair prices for farmers and mitigating price fluctuations of key commodities.
As part of the Price Support Scheme (PSS) within the integrated PM-AASHA framework, the procurement of specified pulses, oilseeds, and copra that meet the Fair Average Quality (FAQ) standards is carried out by central nodal agencies at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) directly from pre-registered farmers through state-level agencies.
The government has permitted the procurement of Tur, Urad, and Masur under the PSS, covering 100 percent of the state’s production for the 2024-25 procurement year.
Additionally, the government, in the 2025 Budget, has declared that procurement of Tur (Arhar), Urad, and Masur will continue at 100 percent of the state’s production for an additional four years to promote self-sufficiency in pulses across the nation.
Union Minister for Agriculture, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has authorized the procurement of Tur (Arhar) in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh under the PSS for the Kharif 2024-25 season, with a total procurement target of 13.22 lakh tonnes.
Procurement efforts have already commenced in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Telangana, where a total of 0.15 lakh tonnes of Tur (Arhar) has been obtained as of February 15, 2025, benefiting 12,006 farmers in these states.
The procurement of Tur (Arhar) in other states is expected to begin shortly.
The Centre remains dedicated to purchasing the entire production of Tur from farmers through central nodal agencies such as NAFED and NCCF, as stated in the announcement. (PTI)
