Groundnuts prices go up; people urge govt to check hoarding in Anantapur

ANANTAPUR: Rise in the prices of groundnuts, also known as peanuts, has come as a shock to this region. Anantapur district is top producer of groundnuts and this is a part of the diet. Hoarding of the commodity is suspected to be a reason for the rise in the prices.

The below-middle-class and even the middle-class sections are unable to afford the traditional peanuts in their diet because of abnormal rise in prices.

Top quality peanuts are sold at Rs 180 in retail markets of the Rayalaseema region while low-quality peanuts are available at Rs 120 to Rs 150 at retail outlets. A big shopping mall in Anantapur differentiated the grades and prices ranged between Rs 125 and Rs 180 per kilo. A consumer who bought low quality nuts threw them out because of poor taste and bad smell.

In fact, many small hotels in the region offering peanut chutney in their menu are unable to give this after the prices went up. "A year ago, we purchased quality peanuts at Rs 90 per kilo but the price has doubled in the retail market, " said Kesav, a hotal owner who stopped serving the chutney.

Many hotels in Rayalaseema region use peanuts for both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. Former APCC chief Raghuveera Reddy’s family has a tradition of serving Ragi Sankati and peanut chutney in the menu even for its foreign guests.

Anantapur district occupied the top slot in groundnut sowing and cultivation across the country. It was facing a series of crop failures due to rain deficit in the past decade.

Even as the research station of Kadiri successfully introduced new varieties like Kadiri and Lepakshi that have huge demand in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka, another consecutive crop failure hit the groundnut market this season too.

People of this region hope the government would control the price of groundnuts and take action against hoarding of the commodity by traders.