Kurnool:Retail prices of Kurnool Sona Masuri rice have risen sharply across Andhra Pradesh, prompting the civil supplies department to cap the retail price of A-grade rice at `52 per kg and warn traders against overcharging. Kurnool Sona Masuri, a premium rice variety cultivated in Kurnool, Nandyal and parts of Anantapur district, including Kanekal and Rayadurg, has recorded a steep increase in prices in recent weeks. According to civil supplies officials, the price rise cannot be attributed solely to reduced cultivation in parts of Kurnool, Nandyal and Anantapur districts. The increase in rice prices has also affected the dairy sector, with the price of rice bran, a key cattle feed, rising from `25 to `40 per kg. “We do not have the ability to increase prices on our own.