VIJAYAWADA: Directing the officials to take steps for controlling the prices of essential commodities and vegetables, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has asked them to take action against those resorting to flee customers with high rates.
During a teleconference with the officials of Civil Supplies, Agriculture and Horticulture departments and Rythu Bazars from his residence at Undavalli near here on Wednesday, the Chief Minister directed the officials to strive for increasing the production of oil seeds, cereals and vegetables.
In view of the increasing prices of vegetables, the Chief Minister wanted the officials to encourage farmers to cultivate vegetables by supplying seeds at subsidised rates.
Recalling that the market intervention by the government last year helped in controlling the prices of onions and red gram, he suggested the officials to adopt the same method for regulating the prices of essential commodities and to avoid the additional burden on poor and middle-class families.
When the officials explained to the Chief Minister that low productivity led to the escalation of tomato prices, he suggested them to purchase tomato at `52 per kg directly from farmers in Madanapalle tomato market in Chittoor district and to keep the stock available in Rythu Bazars.Underscoring the need for elimination of middlemen and black marketing, he said that benefits should go to farmers and consumers. Civil Supplies Minister Prathipati Pulla Rao and other officials were present.