Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA): Ensuring Remunerative Prices and Farmer Welfare

The Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) was launched to ensure that farmers receive remunerative prices for their produce, thereby protecting their income while keeping essential commodities affordable for consumers.

The scheme represents a key pillar of India’s agricultural pricing framework, designed to bridge the gap between Minimum Support Prices (MSP) and prevailing market prices during periods of excess supply or low demand.

Components and Functioning of the Scheme

The Price Support Scheme (PSS) is one of the main components under PM-AASHA. It is triggered when the market price of notified pulses, oilseeds, or copra falls below the MSP during the peak harvest season.

Under this mechanism:

• Eligible produce meeting Fair Average Quality (FAQ) standards is directly procured from pre-registered farmers who possess valid land records.
• Procurement is conducted through National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED) and National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Ltd. (NCCF).
• This direct procurement process eliminates intermediaries and safeguards farmers against distress sales, ensuring timely payments.

Additionally, cotton and jute are procured at MSP by the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) and Jute Corporation of India (JCI) respectively. Notably, there is no maximum limit on the quantity of cotton and jute procured from farmers, reinforcing the government’s support for cash crops as well.

Implementation and Continuity of PM-AASHA

During the 15th Finance Commission cycle, the Government of India approved the continuation of the PM-AASHA scheme until FY2025–26, reaffirming its long-term commitment to agricultural stability and farmer welfare.

The scheme operates in close consultation with State Governments, ensuring that procurement is geographically balanced and tailored to state-level crop patterns. This federal coordination helps maintain equitable price support across India’s diverse agricultural landscape.

The procurement guarantee has also been substantially strengthened, with the budgetary allocation for pulses procurement under PM-AASHA enhanced from ₹45,000 crore to ₹60,000 crore. This allows for expanded coverage and quicker execution of MSP-based procurement drives.

From MSP to Atmanirbharta in Pulses

The Union Budget 2025 outlined a new initiative where 100% of the domestic production of Tur (Arhar), Urad, and Masoor will be procured for four years, up to FY2028–29. This assurance underpins the government’s intent to create a sustainable and resilient pulses ecosystem, enhancing income certainty for farmers.

By March 25, 2025, a total of 2.46 lakh metric tonnes of Tur (Arhar) had already been procured under PM-AASHA across five major states, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Telangana, benefitting 1,71,569 farmers.

Read More: Agriculture Sector Flags GST Transition Concerns With CBIC

Conclusion

The Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) stands as a cornerstone of India’s agricultural support framework, combining price assurance, procurement efficiency, and policy continuity. With its expansion under the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision, PM-AASHA is set to not only secure farmers’ incomes but also propel India toward complete self-reliance in pulses.