No rush for subsidised onions at Vijayawada Rythu Bazaars

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Consumers buying onions at subsidised price in Vijayawada Rythu Bazaar. | Photo Credit: G.N. RAO

There is no maddening rush for subsidised onions at Rythu Bazaars in Vijayawada despite the State government capping prices at ₹35 per kg, aiming to provide relief to consumers amid a surge in vegetable prices.

Earlier, the State government announced the initiative to begin from September 30 at all Rythu Bazaars. But the public is not completely dependent on Rythu Bazaars as expected.

According to the Estate Officers, this is because the price outside is around ₹50, a difference of just ₹15. “Since the difference between the prices offered in the Rythu Bazaar and outside is not too wide, there is no rush here,” said Karunakar, Estate Officer, Patamata.

At the Krishna Lanka and Patamata Rythu Bazaars, on average, around one tonne of onions was being sold over the past three days.

He, however, said the prices of other vegetables such as tomatoes and brinjals are on the rise due to the recent spell of very heavy rainfall across the State.

Before the rains, caused by the deep depression over the Bay of Bengal, prices of these two vegetables remained below ₹30, and now the prices have gone up to ₹44 a kg. It may take two weeks for the prices to stabilise, Mr. Karunakar said.

But since the weather experts are talking about another system in the Bay of Bengal around October 15, prices are expected to rise again.

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