SDG 2: Zero Hunger | SDG 12: Responsible Consumption & Production
Institutions: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare | NAFED
The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has approved procurement plans worth ₹15,095.83 crore for pulses and oilseeds in the states of Telangana, Odisha, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh under the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM‑AASHA) and other schemes.
In Telangana procurement will cover 100 % of urad and moong and 25 % of soybean production; in Odisha 100 % of arhar production; in Maharashtra large volumes of moong, urad and soybean under PSS; in Madhya Pradesh soybean under the Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS) with ~22.2 lakh MT targeted.
The move strengthens the government’s mechanism to secure farm-gate incomes, stabilise farm produce prices and reduce farmer exposure to market volatility, linking to India’s broader objectives of food security and “Atmanirbhar Bharat”. It supports the Agriculture Ministry’s goal of income protection under PM-AASHA.
What is PM-AASHA?→ PM-AASHA (Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan) is a national income-protection scheme designed to ensure that farmers receive at least the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for pulses and oilseeds. It works through three options:
Price Support Scheme (PSS): Government agencies procure directly from farmers at MSP.
Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS): Farmers receive the difference between MSP and market price in their bank accounts.
Private Procurement & Stockist Scheme (PPSS): Authorised private players procure from farmers at MSP in select districts.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can state-level procurement infrastructure be scaled and monitored to ensure these large-volume purchases translate into timely payments and actual farmer benefit?
Follow the full news here: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2183090