The state government of Maharashtra issued an order to form a committee to study and implement minimum support price (MSP) schemes under the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA). The committee will submit a detailed report and will also come up with suggestions and recommendations for the government regarding the implementation of MSP Schemes across the state. The report should be prepared in one month by the committee, as stated in the order issued on February 17.
A Government Resolution was issued by the state Cooperation, Marketing and Textile Department on February 17. The PM-AASHA oversees the price support program (PSF) and price stabilization program (PSS) for the acquisition of agricultural products.
According to the GR, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare released guidelines for putting these programs into action in October 2018 under the Union administration.
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As per these guidelines, the central government will buy 25% of the total production of the essential agricultural commodities at the MSP. This process is carried out by the National Cooperative Consumer Federation of India (NAFED) as the nodal agency.
The state-level nodal institutions will also be responsible for facilitating the purchase. The state-level nodal agencies are required to oversee the process and guarantee that purchase centres are properly organised and furnished with the required amenities, the guidelines further stated.
According to the GR, the committee will assess the current structure and suggest regulations to guarantee the MSP programs function properly throughout the state.
The Managing Director of the Maharashtra State Cooperative Marketing Federation in Mumbai will serve as the committee's chair, and among its members will be the managing director of NAFED in Mumbai, the state's marketing director in Pune, and the chief marketing officer of the state agricultural marketing board in Pune.