Nov 17 (Mid-day): The poor monsoon this year is expected to lead to a drop in rice production, leading to price rise, especially since the govt’s stock of the grain has been shrinking steadily, says an ASSOCHAM report

Daal-rice, so far considered the most basic meal, is now set to get even more costly for the common man, as the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) has predicted that rice prices will rise considerably in the coming months.

Where's the 100-rupee toor daal, Mr Minister?

The report warned that this was because of twin factors — not only is the poor rainfall expected to result in a shortfall in rice production this year, but the government’s stock of the staple grain has also been declining in the past few years.

This is further bad news for the common man, still reeling under sky-high daal prices. The government has estimated that the Kharif yield of rice will fall to 90.6 million metric tonnes (MMT), compared to 90.86 MMT in the corresponding period in 2014-15 and 91.5 MMT in the year before that.