2 days ago
Rising Essential Food Prices Strain Household Budgets in Rajamahendravaram
Many everyday foods have become more expensive in Rajamahendravaram.
Pulses, oil, rice, sugar, onions and vegetables all cost more than before.
This makes it harder for families with small or fixed incomes to pay for groceries, rent and other needs.
Poor rainfall and possible effects from El Nino have reduced some agricultural supplies.
Higher fuel and transportation costs have also raised prices.
Some consumers and a CPI leader say the government should do more to protect shoppers.
They want cheaper vegetables through Rythu Bazars and ration shops.
They also want officials to investigate possible hoarding and artificial shortages.
The Price Stabilisation Fund is meant to help control sudden price increases, but residents say stronger local action is needed.
Prices of pulses, cooking oils, rice, sugar and vegetables have risen, increasing pressure on poor and middle-class households.
Local estimates indicate onion prices rose about 110% over a decade, edible oils nearly 100% and pulses about 80%.
Between late April and early August, toor dal rose about Rs 15 a kg, while urad dal and Bengal gram increased about Rs 10.
Consumers attribute the increases to weak rainfall, agricultural fluctuations, transport costs and international edible-oil supply developments.
Residents are seeking subsidised food sales, stronger price monitoring, inspections against hoarding and increased government market intervention.
- Who
- Poor and middle-class households, consumers, retailers, traders, local representatives and government departments are involved.
- What
- Prices of essential food commodities have risen sharply, putting household budgets under strain.
- Where
- Rajamahendravaram and nearby markets, including the Rajahmundry market, in the affected district.
- When
- Prices increased over the past decade, with sharper increases reported from late April to early August and in recent months.
- Why
- Reported factors include weak rainfall, agricultural production fluctuations, higher transport costs, international edible-oil supply developments, and alleged hoarding or speculative trading.
Consumer Calls for Government Action
Market and Supply Explanations
Responsibility for higher prices
Consumer Calls for Government Action
Consumers and CPI leader Tatipaka Madhu say authorities should control prices, protect households and strengthen market intervention.
Market and Supply Explanations
Retailers and traders point to weak agricultural production, rainfall problems, higher fuel and transport costs, and international developments affecting edible-oil supplies.
Sugar price increase
Consumer Calls for Government Action
Tatipaka Madhu alleged that domestic sugarcane diversion for ethanol and dependence on sugar imports contributed to higher sugar prices.
Market and Supply Explanations
The article presents this as an allegation and does not provide a response from the Centre or sugar producers.
Possible shortages
Consumer Calls for Government Action
Consumer groups want inspections of storage facilities and action against alleged hoarding, artificial shortages and speculative trading.
Market and Supply Explanations
Some wholesale traders are alleged to be increasing stocks ahead of a possible shortage, but the complaints have not been independently confirmed in the report.
Key facts
- Onion price
- Estimated to have risen about 110% over the past decade; retail price reached Rs 60 a kg in the Rajahmundry market.
- Edible oils
- Prices are estimated to have increased nearly 100% over the past decade.
- Pulses
- Prices are estimated to have risen about 80% on average over the past decade.
- Recent dal increases
- Toor dal rose about Rs 15 a kg, while urad dal and Bengal gram rose about Rs 10 a kg from late April to early August.
- Rice price example
- A 26 kg bag bought for Rs 1,650 one month reportedly cost Rs 1,830 the next month.
- Sugar price
- Sugar has crossed Rs 70 a kg in some retail markets.
- Proposed measures
- Consumers seek subsidised vegetables, mobile Rythu Bazars, stronger inspections, buffer stocks and action against hoarding.
Quotes
CH Vijayalakshmi
Health department employee from Bhimavaram
“I have been working as an outsourcing worker for the past 20 years and earn Rs 12,000 a month. Earlier, our monthly grocery and house maintenance cost bill was around Rs 10,000, but even Rs 15,000 is not enough now. In addition to this, rent, electricity, children’s education and other expenses take more than Rs 11,000 every month.”
thehansindia.com
“The cost of cooking has increased considerably. With festivals and Karthika Masam ahead, people with limited incomes will find it difficult to bear another round of price increases.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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