New Delhi: (PM-AASHA Scheme) The Union Cabinet has taken two major decisions in the interest of farmers. The Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) scheme will be continued. Along with this, subsidy on fertilizers for the Rabi season has also been approved. Both the schemes will cost about Rs 60 thousand crore, which will provide great relief to the farmers.

35 thousand crores will be spent

In the meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, it has been decided to continue the PM-Asha scheme as part of efforts to provide remunerative prices to farmers for their produce as well as to provide relief to consumers. Rs 35 thousand crore will be spent on this.

cost on storage

This will help in controlling the price. This money will be spent on storage to prevent fluctuations in prices due to high production of a crop. The total financial expenditure in this item during the 15th Finance Commission till 2025-26 will be Rs 35 thousand crore.

Relief to farmers

To provide relief to farmers and consumers in adverse circumstances, Price Support Scheme (PSS) and Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) schemes have been integrated with PM-AASHA.

More purchase of crops

Under the price support scheme, the procurement of notified pulses, oilseeds and copra at MSP will be 25 per cent of the national production, which will help the states to procure more of these crops from farmers at MSP to get remunerative prices and prevent distress sale. However, this limit will not apply in the case of tur, urad and lentil for the year 2024-25, as the government has already decided to procure 100 per cent of these pulses at MSP.

Farmers will continue to get fertilizers at subsidized rates

The Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers to fix the rates of nutrient based subsidy on phosphatic and potash (P&K) fertilizers for the Rabi crop season (2024). This will cost Rs 24,475 crore. This will rationalize the subsidy on phosphatic and potassic fertilizers in view of the recent trend in the price of fertilizers.

The government has been providing 28 grades of P&K fertilizers to farmers at subsidized rates through fertilizer companies and importers since 2010. This includes urea, DAP, MOP and sulfur. Due to the government's decision, farmers will continue to get fertilizers at subsidized rates.