PM AASHA Scheme

Annadata of the Pradhan Mantri Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM AASHA) is a plan that strives to ensure that farmers and their product receive a fair price.

The PM-AASHA initiative would increase farmers' revenue by enhancing the procurement process.

Components of the PM-AASHA Scheme

The PM AASHA Scheme as the following components

• Price Support Scheme (PSS): Under the Price Support Scheme, the Central Nodal Agencies will acquire pulses and oilseeds with the help of state governments. The PSS will be built up by the Food Corporation of India in collaboration with NAFED, with the Central Government covering all costs.

• Price Deficiency Payment Plan (PDPS): This scheme will cover all oilseeds that have been notified for SP. Registered farmers will receive direct payment of the difference between the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the selling price. All payments will be paid to the farmer's registered bank account. In other words, no procurement would take place, and farmers would be paid the difference between MSP and selling price.

• Private Procurement and Stockist Scheme (PPPS): The private sector will participate in procurement activities under the Private Procurement and Stockist Scheme (PPPS). States will have the option of implementing the plan in chosen APMCs as a pilot project with private sector participation.

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Challenges for the PM-AASHA Scheme

Like all government schemes, the PM-AASHA scheme has its own share of challenges. They are as follows:

• It does not strengthen the country's effective procurement procedure infrastructure for wheat and rice.
• Only 24% of families were aware of the MSP in force, according to a 2017 research by K.S. Aditya. Further research revealed that the MSPs were only active in a few states.
• The quantity of products acquired by authorised state agencies was restricted, with the exception of wheat and rice, resulting in low awareness.
• The procurement facilities in some states were judged to be ‘insufficient' not the long run, according to the NITI Aayog's assessment.

Conclusion:-

• Procurement centres must be enhanced, particularly in terms of dying yards, weighing bridges, and other facilities.
• In order to decrease waste, more godowns and storage facilities must be built.
• To save money on transportation, procurement centres should be located in the communities themselves.
• Infrastructure for procurement, according to the NITI Aayog, is critical for the success of any farmer-oriented welfare plan.

To know more about other Government Schemes, visit the linked article.

When did the AASHA Scheme get started?
The Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA), or Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan, was introduced in September 2018 as a way to ensure that farmers cultivating pulses, oilseeds, and other commodities received the minimum support prices promised for their products each year.

What is the Support Price Minimum?
MSP is a type of market intervention used by the government of India to protect agricultural farmers against a significant drop in farm prices. The minimum support prices are a government-guaranteed price for their products.