20 hrs ago
Essential Commodity Prices Rise Across Andhra Pradesh
Many everyday food items have become more expensive in Andhra Pradesh.
Rice, sugar, onions, cooking oils and pulses are among the items affected.
Families may now spend ₹1,000 to ₹1,500 more each month.
This is especially difficult for poorer and middle-income households.
Officials say traders must not charge more than the prescribed prices.
Some people believe prices are rising because traders are artificially increasing them.
Onion production has fallen in some districts, so onions are being brought from Maharashtra.
A government effort to sell cheaper fine rice was not popular because consumers complained about its quality.
Prices of essential commodities have increased by 15% to 20% in recent weeks across Andhra Pradesh.
Analysts estimate that households are spending an additional ₹1,000 to ₹1,500 each month.
The total additional monthly burden for the state’s 1.45 crore families is estimated at about ₹1,450 crore.
Officials ordered traders to follow prescribed prices, including ₹56 per kilogram for rice and ₹57 for sugar.
Reduced cultivation, El Niño concerns, onion shortages and alleged trader manipulation could worsen the situation.
- Who
- Households in Andhra Pradesh, consumers, traders, analysts and government officials, including Kurnool Joint Collector Noorul Qamar, are involved.
- What
- Prices of essential commodities have risen by 15% to 20%, increasing household expenses.
- Where
- Across Andhra Pradesh, with onion shortages reported in Kurnool and Nandyal districts and imports arriving at Emmiganur market.
- When
- The increase occurred in recent weeks; analysts warned that conditions could worsen in the coming months.
- Why
- Analysts cited inflation, reduced crop cultivation and possible El Niño effects, while consumers alleged that some traders were artificially raising prices.
Consumers and Analysts
Officials and Traders
Cause of price increases
Consumers and Analysts
Consumers and analysts point to weak monitoring, inflation, reduced cultivation and allegations that traders are artificially increasing prices.
Officials and Traders
Officials focused on enforcing prescribed rates and controlling sales above prevailing average prices; the articles do not include a direct response from traders to the allegations.
Government price-control measures
Consumers and Analysts
Consumers said prices were rising weekly and that effective monitoring was not in place.
Officials and Traders
Kurnool Joint Collector Noorul Qamar said strict action would be taken against traders charging above prescribed rates and directed officials to control onion prices at Rythu Bazaars.
Controlled-price fine rice
Consumers and Analysts
Consumers reportedly avoided the ₹52-per-kilogram fine rice offered at government counters, alleging that its quality was poor.
Officials and Traders
Authorities opened counters in Kurnool and Nandyal districts in an effort to provide quality fine rice at a controlled price.
Key facts
- Households affected
- Andhra Pradesh has around 1.45 crore families.
- Estimated household burden
- Families are spending an additional ₹1,000 to ₹1,500 per month.
- Estimated state-wide burden
- The additional monthly burden is estimated at around ₹1,450 crore.
- Rice price in table
- Sona Masuri rice rose from ₹45 to ₹65 per kilogram; a consumer separately reported fine-quality rice rising from ₹40 to ₹65.
- Sugar price in table
- Sugar rose from ₹52 to ₹75 per kilogram.
- Onion price in table
- Onions rose from ₹40 to ₹65 per kilogram.
- Prescribed prices cited by officials
- Rice ₹56 per kilogram, red gram dal ₹117 per kilogram and sugar ₹57 per kilogram.
Quotes
N. Padmavathi
A resident of Halaharvi in Kurnool district
“Traders should not sell essential commodities above the prevailing average prices. Rice should be sold at `56 a kg, red gram dal at `117 a kg and sugar at `57 a kg”
deccanchronicle.com
“We used to buy fine-quality rice at `40 a kg. Now the price is `65. If the price rises by `25 a kg, how are ordinary families expected to manage their homes”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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