Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA)

Summary of the Scheme
Name of Scheme	Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA)
Launch Year	2018
Benefits	Price support through MSP procurement, price-deficiency payments and market intervention for eligible agricultural produce
Beneficiary	Farmers growing notified pulses, oilseeds and copra, and eligible perishable crops under MIS
Nodal Agency	Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
Subscription	Subscribe here to get Update Regarding Scheme
Mode of Apply	Pre-registration through the applicable State procurement system, e-Samridhi, e-Samyukti or designated procurement centres

Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA): Price Support When Market Rates Fall

A farmer can grow a bumper crop and still lose money. When too many people sell at once, prices drop below what it cost to grow the crop, and many farmers are forced into distress sales. The Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA), launched in 2018 by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, tries to prevent that by giving price support for eligible crops.

What this scheme is not

PM-AASHA is not a cash-transfer scheme. There is no single form, no fixed payment and no amount that every farmer receives. What you get depends on your crop, the component approved for that season, the procurement operation and market conditions. It is also different from PM-KISAN (direct income support), PMFBY (crop insurance) and the Kisan Credit Card (credit). Those address other needs, and farmers can benefit from all of them.

The four components

1. Price Support Scheme (PSS): eligible pulses, oilseeds and copra are bought from farmers at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) when procurement is approved. NAFED, NCCF and authorised state agencies do the buying.
2. Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS): for notified oilseeds, when the market price is below MSP, eligible registered farmers are paid the difference, and the government does not physically buy the crop.
3. Market Intervention Scheme (MIS): for eligible perishable agricultural and horticultural crops that have no MSP, when their market prices fall significantly.
4. Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF): used to manage sharp price swings in selected essential commodities, to protect both farmers and consumers.

Latest updates

1. Tur, Urad and Masur have special procurement support. Under the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, registered farmers can sell these through NAFED and NCCF up to 2030-31.
2. NAFED’s e-Samridhi and NCCF’s e-Samyukti are being used for registration and procurement.
3. Aadhaar-based biometric or facial authentication is used at procurement centres, to make sure the payment reaches the registered farmer.

Who can benefit

1. Farmers growing notified pulses, oilseeds and copra (PSS)
2. Farmers growing notified oilseeds when PDPS is approved for the crop and season
3. Farmers producing eligible perishable crops, when the required price fall occurs (MIS)

Two conditions apply to nearly everyone. You must register before taking part in notified procurement, and your produce must meet the Fair Average Quality (FAQ) standards. Registration does not guarantee that every quantity you bring will be bought. Procurement follows the approved component, crop, period and rules.

Documents and details to keep ready

1. Aadhaar or other valid identity proof
2. Bank account details for payment
3. A mobile number linked to your farmer record
4. Land ownership or cultivation records, as the State or agency requires
5. Farmer registration details from the State system, where applicable
6. Details of the crop and the land on which it was grown

Requirements vary by State and agency, so check with your State Agriculture Department or the procurement centre.

How to take part

1. Check whether your crop is covered and whether procurement is open in your State and season. Procurement is not open for every crop all year round.
2. Find the dates and the procurement centre from your State Agriculture Department or the nearest centre.
3. Register. NAFED procurement may use e-Samridhi, NCCF procurement may use e-Samyukti, and State systems, PACS, FPOs and designated centres may also be used.
4. Enter your details carefully and make sure your name, bank details, land and crop information are correct.
5. Select or confirm your procurement centre, and follow any slot, token or date given.
6. Take the registered produce to the centre, with your documents, for the quality check.
7. If the produce meets the standards and falls within the approved arrangement, it is bought and the quantity and price are recorded.
8. Payment is processed to your registered bank account after verification.
9. Keep your registration details, receipt and procurement record in case of payment delays.

If you cannot register online, approach your State Agriculture Department, a PACS, an FPO or the procurement centre. The help available differs by State.

A practical tip

Register as early as you can, before the procurement period opens or as soon as it does, because registration is the gate to everything else. Also make sure your land record and the crop details on your registration match, since mismatches are a common reason for delay.

Where to get help

1. Kisaan Helpline: 18001801551
2. e-Samridhi (NAFED): 01126340019
3. e-Samyukti (NCCF): 1800-202-6290, or support@nccfindia.com
4. For questions about your crop, registration, payment or purchase centre, contact your State Agriculture Department or the procurement agency in your area

Questions the source leaves open

It lists FAQs without answers about which crops are covered and how to register. The first depends on the season and the State, and the answers above reflect that the registration channel varies by crop and State. The source does not give a list of crops with MSP rates, so check the current notifications.