Parliament Question: Implementation of PM-AASHA

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 837 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 06/02/2026 IMPLEMENTATION OF PM-AASHA 837. Shri Javed Ali Khan: : Will the minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE be pleased to state: (a) whether Government had started Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM- AASHA) in 2018 to ensure remunerative prices to farmers of the country; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c) the details of funds allocated, released and utilsed under PM-AASHA during last three years and the current year, till date, year-wise and State-wise; (d) whether Government has conducted any study during the last three years to ascertain the impact of PM-AASHA on remunerative prices to farmers; (e) if so, the details thereof, State-wise; and (f) if not, whether Government will conduct a study for the same during current year? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR) (a) & (b): Yes Sir, Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) was launched in 2018 to ensure remunerative price to the farmers with the components of Price Support Scheme (PSS), Price Deficit Payment Scheme (PDPS) and Private Procurement and Stockist Scheme (PPSS). From 2024-25, integrated PM-AASHA is being implemented with the components and Market Intervention Scheme (MIS). PSS, PDPS and MIS are implemented by Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. PSF is implemented by Department of Consumer Affairs. PSS is implemented on the request of State/UT Government for procurement of prescribed Fair Average Quality (FAQ) of notified pulses, oilseeds and copra at Minimum Support Price (MSP) through Central Nodal Agencies within the stipulated period as and when the market prices of these commodities fall below the notified MSP during peak harvesting period to provide remunerative price to pre-registered farmers.The overall quantity of procurement by Central Government will be limited to 25% of All India Production of the particular pulses, oilseeds and copra for the particular season. Initially the sanction for procurement under PSS is allowed at 25% of state estimated production. However, additional quantity under the window of 25% of All India Production of the commodity will be allowed only after the procurement of 25% of state production of the particular commodity by CNAs is exhausted in a given state. To encourage domestic production & ensure remunerative prices to farmers, procurement of Tur, Urad and Masur from the pre-registered farmers is undertaken as much as offered by them through the Central Nodal Agencies under Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses till 2030-31.PDPS provides direct payment of the difference between the MSP and the selling / modal price to pre-registered farmers selling oilseeds of prescribed FAQ norms within the stipulated period in the notified market yard through a transparent auction process. This scheme does not involve any physical procurement. Under PDPS full compensation of difference between MSP and Sale/Modal price i.e. Price Deficiency, received by farmers upto 15% of MSP value (including 2% administrative cost) is borne by Central Government. The support of the central government will be given for quantity upto 40% of state production of the particular oilseed. If any State is willing to cover quantities beyond 40%, the same needs to be funded from the resources of State governments. MIS is implemented across the country to provide remunerative price to the farmers for agricultural and horticultural commodities which are perishable in nature and are not covered under the Minimum Support Price regime. The objective is to protect the farmers from distress sale in the event of a bumper crop during the peak arrival, when prices tend to fall below cost of production. There should be at least a 10% decrease in the ruling market prices over the previous normal year. The scheme is implemented at the request of a State/UT government, which is ready to bear 50 % of the loss (25% in case of North-Eastern States), if any, incurred on its implementation. New components of Price Differential Payment (PDPS) with an option to make direct payment of the price difference between the Market Intervention Price (MIP) and the selling price to the farmers for the crops traded in the APMC mandis has been added. Additionally, reimbursement for transportation and storage cost of TOP crops (Tomato, Onion and Potato) to central nodal agencies & State designated agencies for storing and transporting them from producing state to consuming state are allowed. (c): Under PM-AASHA, funds are not allocated to State Govt. However, the loss incurred if any, in the implementation of the these schemes are reimbursed to CNAs, State Agencies and State Government. The details of fund allocated and released under PM-AASHA during last three year and current year is at Annexure-I. (d) to (f): The evaluation of PSS has been done by Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO), NITI Aayog in 2023-24. As per the evaluation reports, farmers expressed satisfaction with MSP benefits and receiving remunerative price.Annexure-I (Amount in Rs. crore) 2022-23 BE RE Expenditure MIS/PSS 1,500.00 4,500.00 4,007.00 PPSS 0.50 0.00 0.00 PDPS 0.50 0.00 0.00 2023-24 BE RE Expenditure MIS 0.01 40.00 0.00 PSS 0.01 2200.00 2200.00 PPSS 0.01 0.00 0.00 PDPS 0.01 0.00 0.00 2024-25 BE RE Expenditure MIS 0.01 75.13 22.59 PM-AASHA 6,437.50 6,476.13 5,437.99 2025-26 BE RE Expenditure PM-AASHA 6941.36 6941.36 3710.12 *Different budget heads were allocated for MIS and PSS from 2023-24 A common head under PM-AASHA was introduced in Oct. 2024 ***