VIJAYAWADA: The severe summer heatwave has triggered a sharp surge in prices of essential commodities across the State, posing a big challenge to households to cope with monthly expenses.
Intense heatwave conditions, coupled with water scarcity, have damaged crops and reduced yields, severely affecting the farm output. Vegetable prices have risen by nearly 50% overall, while in open markets the increase has touched up to 100%, making basic produce increasingly unaffordable.
The prices of tomato, okra, brinjal, chilli, ridge gourd and beans have almost doubled over the past month, while leafy vegetables have also recorded steep price rise. Except onions, most vegetables have become costlier. The impact is clearly visible in Rythu Bazaars and local markets with the decline in consumers. Vendors attribute the price rise to low crop arrivals caused by crop damage and reduced yields due to extreme heat. Transportation costs have also increased, further adding to the burden on consumers.
People say the sudden price spike has disrupted their household budgets. S Ankal Rao of Machilipatnam said he has been feeling the pinch in recent weeks. “I used to visit Rythu Bazaar and buy vegetables for a week with around Rs 250. Now, I have to spend about Rs 400 to Rs 450 for the same quantity of vegetables. Vendors say prices may increase further in the coming days,” he said.
Popular rice varieties see price hike
Several other consumers echoed similar concerns, stating that managing daily expenses has become increasingly difficult now.
Adding to the burden, consumers are also facing rising prices of the staple food rice. Millers and traders seem to have increased the prices at will with the prices going up by Rs 400 to Rs 500 per 26 kg bag of rice between February and April. Popular varieties such as HMT, BPT and Sona Masuri have witnessed significant price rise, further straining household finances.
In the absence of a proper regulatory mechanism and due to alleged negligence by civil supplies and legal metrology authorities, prices of essential commodities continue to rise unchecked, forcing consumers to pay exorbitant rates.
“I purchased a 26 kg bag of HMT rice at Rs 1,200 in February. Now, the same 26 kg rice bag is being sold at Rs 1,550. Some retailers are selling the rice bag at Rs 1,600 also. Every month, the prices of rice in the retail shops are being hiked which causes a heavy financial burden on middle class families,” said A Vara Prasad, a resident of Gunadala in Vijayawada.
He urged the government to take stringent measures to curb the rising prices of essential commodities to better safeguard the interests of commoners.
