On September 3, 2026, the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet’s Essential Commodities Sub‑Committee met at the State Secretariat with Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar, Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu, and Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav to address soaring prices of onions, tur dal, and palm oil.

The committee decided to set the retail price of onions at ₹35 per kilogram, a move aimed at providing immediate relief to consumers amid a 60‑plus percent price surge over the last five years.

To curb tur dal inflation, the committee requested the Union Department of Consumer Affairs to allocate 1.20 lakh metric tonnes of the staple grain. The dal will be sold at affordable rates through Rythu Bazaars and special counters.

Palm oil procurement will also be undertaken through the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation (NCCF) and offered to the public at subsidised prices.

In a broader market intervention, the committee ordered the purchase of 10,000 metric tonnes of KNM rice from Nellore district mills, to be sold via 651 special counters and Rythu Bazaars. This expands the existing rice programme and has already benefited nearly one lakh consumers with 10,163 quintals sold.

The government will launch QR‑coded rice bags to honour farmers and ensure transparency, a step that has already seen significant uptake.

Officials were instructed to monitor prices, stocks, and supply chains continuously, coordinating across departments to prevent artificial shortages.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that such swift interventions are crucial for stabilizing essential commodity markets and preventing inflationary spirals in the state’s economy.

“The intervention signals a proactive stance, but sustained impact requires addressing production bottlenecks.” — Dr. Ravi Kumar, Agricultural Economist

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why was the onion price set at ₹35/kg?

2. How will the allocation of 1.2 lakh tonnes of tur dal benefit consumers?