The government has approved the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) scheme until 2025-26, as part of the 15th Finance Commission cycle. This initiative aims to stabilize prices, provide fair compensation to farmers, and ensure the availability of essential commodities at reasonable rates for consumers.
The integrated PM-AASHA Scheme encompasses the Price Support Scheme (PSS), under which the Central Nodal Agencies (CNAs) procure notified pulses, oilseeds, and copra directly from registered farmers at the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
To encourage domestic pulse production and reduce reliance on imports, the government has decided to procure 100% of the production of Tur (Arhar), Urad, and Masur under the PSS for the procurement year 2024-25.
Furthermore, the Union Budget 2025 extended this procurement policy for another four years to support farmers. This decision is expected to enhance self-sufficiency in pulse production while ensuring financial security for farmers.
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has approved Tur procurement under the Price Support Scheme in nine states, including Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh, for the Kharif 2024-25 season.
The total procurement target for Tur is 13.22 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT), with operations currently ongoing in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Telangana.
As of February 15, 2025, approximately 0.15 LMT of Tur has been procured in these states, directly benefiting 12,006 farmers. The procurement process in other states is set to commence soon.
The Centre has assured that 100% of Tur production will be purchased through central nodal agencies, including the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India (NCCF).
