Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) is a scheme launched by the Government of India in September 2018 to ensure remunerative prices for agricultural products produced by farmers in India. The scheme is designed to stabilize the incomes of farmers and to reduce their reliance on unpredictable market prices for their crops.
Under PM-AASHA, the government provides financial support to farmers through a variety of means, including minimum support prices (MSPs) for certain crops, price deficiency payments, and direct income support. The goal of the scheme is to help farmers secure a stable and reliable income, which will in turn help to boost rural development and reduce poverty in India.
Components of the PM-AASHA Scheme
PM-AASHA (Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan) consists of three main components:
Price Support Scheme (PSS): This component provides financial support to farmers when the market price of a crop falls below the minimum support price (MSP) set by the government.
Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS): This component provides financial support to farmers when the market price of a crop is lower than the MSP, but not low enough to trigger the PSS.
Direct Income Support Scheme (DISS): This component provides direct income support to farmers through a cash transfer to their bank accounts. The amount of the transfer is based on the number of hectares of land that a farmer owns.
All three components of PM-AASHA are intended to help stabilize the incomes of farmers and reduce their reliance on unpredictable market prices for their crops.
Challenges for the PM-AASHA Scheme
There are a number of challenges that the PM-AASHA scheme (Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan) has faced since its inception in 2018. Some of the main challenges include:
Limited coverage: The scheme currently covers only a limited number of crops, so many farmers are not eligible for financial support.
Complex eligibility criteria: The eligibility criteria for the scheme are quite complex, and many farmers may find it difficult to meet all of the requirements.
Limited funding: There have been concerns that the amount of funding allocated to the scheme is insufficient to provide adequate support to all eligible farmers.
Administrative challenges: The scheme requires the involvement of multiple government agencies, which can lead to delays and other administrative challenges.
Lack of awareness: Many farmers are not aware of the scheme or how to access its benefits, which limits its impact.
Dependence on market prices: The scheme is still heavily dependent on market prices for crops, which can be unpredictable and can affect the level of support provided to farmers.
Poor implementation: There have been reports of poor implementation of the scheme at the local level, which can limit its effectiveness.
Frequently Asked Questions Related to the AASHA Scheme?
Here are some frequently asked questions about the PM-AASHA (Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan) scheme:
What crops are covered under the scheme?
PM-AASHA covers 23 crops, including cereals (such as rice and wheat), pulses (such as lentils and chickpeas), oilseeds (such as mustard and sunflower), and commercial crops (such as cotton and sugarcane).
Who is eligible for the scheme?
To be eligible for the scheme, farmers must be cultivators who own land and grow one of the covered crops. They must also be registered with the local agricultural marketing board and have a bank account in their own name.
How do farmers apply for the scheme?
Farmers can apply for the scheme through their local agricultural marketing board or through a designated bank branch. They will need to provide proof of ownership of land, proof of cultivation of a covered crop, and other required documents.
How is the financial support provided to farmers?
The financial support under the PSS and PDPS components is provided directly to the farmer’s bank account, while the support under the DISS component is provided through a cash transfer.
How are the minimum support prices (MSPs) determined?
The MSPs for each crop are determined by the government based on various factors, including the cost of production, demand and supply, and the overall economic situation. The MSPs are revised periodically.
Are there any limits on the amount of support that a farmer can receive?
There are no specific limits on the amount of support that a farmer can receive under the PSS and PDPS components, as the support is based on the difference between the market price and the MSP. Under the DISS component, the amount of support is based on the number of hectares of land owned by the farmer.
