The combined efforts of PM-AASHA and PMFBY demonstrate the government’s commitment to farmers’ welfare. With guaranteed procurement of pulses and robust crop insurance mechanisms, these initiatives ensure income security and resilience for millions of farmers.

In a significant move to boost agricultural production and ensure remunerative prices for farmers, the Government of India has approved the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) Scheme during the 15th Finance Commission Cycle until 2025-26. The initiative, aimed at stabilizing farm incomes and mitigating price volatility, reinforces the government’s commitment to enhancing food security and self-sufficiency in pulses production.

Under the Price Support Scheme (PSS), a key component of PM-AASHA, the government will procure 100 per cent of the production of Tur (Arhar), Urad, and Masur in all states for the procurement year 2024-25. This measure is expected to reduce dependency on imports and encourage farmers to cultivate more pulses, thereby strengthening domestic production.

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has greenlit the procurement of Tur (Arhar) in nine states — Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh — under the PSS for the Kharif 2024-25 season. The total procurement target across these states has been set at 13.22 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT).

Procurement activities have already commenced in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Telangana, where 0.15 LMT of Tur has been purchased, benefiting 12,006 farmers as of February 15, 2025. The procurement drive in the remaining states is expected to start soon. The Centre has assured farmers that it will continue to purchase 100 per cent of their Tur production through central nodal agencies such as NAFED and NCCF.

PM-AASHA: A Holistic Approach to Agricultural Support

The PM-AASHA scheme, launched to provide price stability to farmers, integrates multiple sub-schemes, including the PSS, Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS), and Pilot of Private Procurement & Stockist Scheme (PPSS). Through the PSS, notified pulses, oilseeds, and copra that meet Fair Average Quality (FAQ) standards are procured at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) directly from pre-registered farmers via state-level agencies.

The extension of PM-AASHA aligns with the government’s broader vision to achieve self-reliance in food production and protect farmers from market fluctuations. The initiative not only ensures price security for cultivators but also makes essential food commodities more affordable for consumers.

Strengthening Farmers’ Security

As the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) completes nine years on February 18, 2025, it stands as one of the most transformative agricultural insurance schemes in India. Launched in 2016 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, PMFBY has played a crucial role in providing financial security to farmers facing crop losses due to natural disasters, pests, and diseases.

Recognizing the scheme’s success, the Union Cabinet in January 2025 approved its continuation along with the Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) until 2025-26, with a total budget allocation of ₹69,515.71 crore. This decision underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring agricultural sustainability and resilience.

Leveraging Technology

PMFBY has been at the forefront of technological advancements in the agricultural sector. The scheme incorporates:

• Satellite imagery, drones, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for crop assessment and yield estimation.
• Remote sensing technology for Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs) to enhance accuracy in loss assessment.
• CCE-Agri App for direct yield data upload to the National Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP), ensuring transparency.
• YES-TECH (Yield Estimation System Based on Technology), introduced in Kharif 2023, blends manual and tech-driven yield estimates, reducing dependency on traditional methods.

These innovations ensure a more efficient, transparent, and accountable crop insurance system, enabling timely claim settlements for farmers. Key Benefits of PMFBY include:

1. Affordable Premiums: Farmers pay only 2 per cent of the sum insured for Kharif food and oilseed crops, 1.5 per cent for Rabi crops, and 5 per cent for commercial and horticultural crops, with the remaining premium subsidized by the government.
2. Comprehensive Coverage: Protection against natural disasters, post-harvest losses, and local calamities like hailstorms and landslides.
3. Timely Compensation: Claims are processed within two months of harvest, preventing farmers from falling into financial distress.
4. Increased Farmer Participation: The scheme, initially mandatory for loanee farmers, has seen a rise in voluntary participation, with non-loanee farmers now constituting 55 per cent of total coverage.

Strengthening the Future of PMFBY

Since its launch, PMFBY has evolved to ensure better transparency, accountability, and prompt claim settlements. The 2023-24 coverage reached an all-time high, making PMFBY the world’s largest agricultural insurance program in terms of farmer applications.

States like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan have further enhanced the scheme’s reach by waiving the farmer’s share of the premium, reducing the financial burden on cultivators.

An official of the ministry of agriculture explained that with its continuous evolution and increasing adoption, PMFBY remains a cornerstone in India’s agricultural policy, safeguarding farmers’ livelihoods and ensuring a resilient farming ecosystem. As the scheme progresses into its next phase, it continues to empower India’s ‘Annadata’ and fortify the nation’s agricultural sustainability.