The Andhra Pradesh state government has directed officials to implement stringent measures to ensure essential commodities remain available to the public at affordable prices. The cabinet sub-committee on price stabilisation instructed officials to continuously monitor fluctuations in open market prices and take timely corrective actions to prevent any burden on consumers.
Cabinet Sub-Committee Review
The sub-committee, comprising Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar, Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav, and Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu, reviewed the situation in the state with officials on Friday. They examined demand and price trends of essential commodities such as pulses, rice, edible oils, tomatoes, and onions in both wholesale and retail markets.
Minister Nadendla Manohar noted that global war-like conditions have contributed to some price increases internationally. However, he assured that the government is fully prepared to control the impact within the state. He specifically highlighted the sharp rise in edible oil prices across the country and assured that necessary steps would be taken to ensure cooking oils remain available at reasonable prices.
Preparations for Kharif Season
The ministers also reviewed preparedness for the upcoming Kharif season. They stated that the agriculture and civil supplies departments are jointly preparing advance plans to ensure smooth procurement and market management during the season. As part of the strategy, the government will launch awareness programmes encouraging farmers to cultivate priority paddy varieties with better market demand.
Ministers pointed out that farmers cultivating low-demand varieties often face difficulties during procurement. They specifically referred to paddy varieties such as 1010 and PR-126, noting that these varieties yield a high percentage of broken rice, making them less suitable for consumption and resulting in financial losses for farmers. The committee instructed officials to create awareness at the field level so that farmers can make informed decisions when selecting paddy varieties.
Commitment to Price Control
The ministers said clear guidelines have been issued to officials to keep prices under control over the next three months through planning and constant monitoring of market conditions. They asserted that the coalition government is committed to ensuring that common people do not face hardships due to rising prices.
This proactive approach by the state government aims to stabilise the market and protect consumers from undue price hikes, particularly in the wake of global economic pressures affecting commodity prices.
