Vizianagaram: The people in Chipurupalli town of Vizianagaram district on Thursday rushed to shops after Andhra Pradesh government started selling onions at Rs 25 per kg.
The people who came to know that onions are being sold at a cheaper price rushed to the Rytu Bazars here in the morning and waited for the Bazar authorities to open the gate to the market yard, in what resembled a Black Friday-esque offer.
As the people lost their cool after some time, they started to create a ruckus to enter the premises to purchase onions. Some women also jumped off the compound wall to reach the shops.
The decision of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy came at a time when onion prices have surged across the country. Onion prices in many places have crossed Rs 100 per kg due to low production, causing distress among the citizens.
Earlier this year, the Center assured that every state shall be granted the required amount of onion supply by end of September. However, most of the demand was not met with enough of supply, as promised. Within two months, the rate of onions increased at such a rate that it is quite impossible to believe that the Government has taken enough measures to tackle the situation.
The government has withdrawn its export subsidies, this time to the point that it has seen signs of danger. Retailers are allowed to store up to 100 quintals and wholesalers up to 500 quintals. Emergency imports from countries like Egypt have been decided upon. Various state governments have started selling onions on their own subsidized rates. However, such subsidies may not be of much use to the buyers. This kind of activity is only getting into loops.
Consumers are left wondering when prices will go down - farmers are worried about the cost of production just like when the rates of peanuts, tomato and potato in Gujarat, Himachal, Haryana and Punjab have been hanging in the air, irrespective of consumption. Almost every year, the plight of farmers or consumers of a crop has become a reality.
