The central government has approved the extension of the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) scheme, ensuring its implementation through the 15th Finance Commission cycle until 2025-26. This decision aims to enhance procurement operations, provide fair prices to farmers, and stabilize essential commodity prices for consumers.
Under the scheme’s Price Support Scheme (PSS) component, the government procures notified pulses, oilseeds, and copra that meet Fair Average Quality (FAQ) standards. Central Nodal Agencies (CNAs) such as NAFED and NCCF carry out procurement at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) in collaboration with state-level agencies. The initiative allows farmers to sell their produce directly at MSP, reducing market uncertainties and ensuring stable income.
To encourage domestic production and reduce reliance on imports, the government has permitted 100% procurement of Tur (Arhar), Urad, and Masur under PSS for the 2024-25 procurement year. This measure was announced in Budget 2025 and is set to continue for the next four years, reinforcing India’s commitment to self-sufficiency in pulses. The move aims to strengthen domestic supply chains and stabilize market prices.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has sanctioned the procurement of Tur (Arhar) in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh for the Kharif 2024-25 season, with an approved procurement quantity of 13.22 lakh metric tonnes (LMT). This significant move will provide direct financial benefits to farmers across these states.
Procurement operations have already commenced in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Telangana, where 0.15 LMT of Tur (Arhar) has been procured as of February 15, benefiting 12,006 farmers. The government has assured that 100% of Tur production will be procured through NAFED and NCCF, ensuring that farmers receive fair compensation while strengthening domestic supply chains.
By continuing PM-AASHA until 2025-26, the government is reaffirming its commitment to farmers, promoting self-reliance in agricultural production, and ensuring a sustainable procurement system that secures fair prices for essential crops.
