Andhra Pradesh to sell subsidised rice through special counters to control food prices

The Andhra Pradesh government will procure 10,000 metric tonnes of KNM variety rice from Nellore district millers and sell it through special counters at affordable rates, part of an expanded market intervention aimed at curbing food inflation.

The Cabinet sub-committee on essential commodities approved the measures at a meeting at the State Secretariat on Thursday, with Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar, Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu and Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav in attendance. The panel decided to widen market intervention beyond the rice programme already operational in the State, announcing immediate action on onions, tur dal and palm oil.

Onion price cap, tur dal allocation sought

The committee will approach the National Cooperative Consumers' Federation (NCCF) for allocation of onion stocks so the vegetable can be sold at ₹35 a kg to consumers. To contain toor dal prices, the State will request the Union Department of Consumer Affairs to allocate 1.20 lakh metric tonnes of tur.

The allocated stock will be processed and the dal sold at affordable prices through Rythu Bazaars and special counters. Officials were also directed to explore procurement of palm oil through the NCCF and supply it to consumers at subsidised prices.

Rice intervention already under way

The State's rice market intervention is currently being implemented through 651 special counters and Rythu Bazaars. About 10,163 quintals of rice have been sold so far, benefiting nearly one lakh consumers.

The sub-committee directed officials to coordinate with the Centre for adequate allocation of essential commodities and ensure their distribution across Andhra Pradesh. Officials were instructed to continuously monitor prices, stocks and supplies and prevent artificial shortages through coordinated action by the departments concerned.

Source: The Hindu