The Rayalaseema region is grappling with a significant spike in vegetable prices, with essentials like tomatoes reaching ₹80 per kg, severely affecting middle and lower-class families. Farmers lament receiving unfair compensation due to exploitative middlemen and inadequate marketing facilities, while consumers face deceptive weighing practices and inflated costs.
Adverse weather and decreased cultivation have worsened the supply-demand imbalance. Residents urge the government to implement measures, such as subsidized sales at Rythu Bazars for ration cardholders, to alleviate the burden and ensure affordable access to essential vegetables. Retired teacher S. Chandrasekhar Rao highlights the need for authorities to boost vegetable yields to stabilize prices.