The rise of rice

Last fortnight we told you how wheat prices had risen in the past. The situation is no different when it comes to the other major foodgrain in India. Prices of rice too have doubled since 1994, straining household budgets in regions where it is the only staple diet.

Then: A kg of rice was priced between Rs 8 and Rs 20 in 1994

Now: It now sells for Rs 16-40 a kg, a rise of 100% in the past 14 years

Then: If its price keeps rising at the same rate, a kg of rice may cost up to Rs 32-80 in 2022.

The price range is for rice varieties that are commonly consumed

You can absorb the shock of price rise better if you realise that as a proportion of your total expenses, you spend a smaller sum on rice today than you did about 10 years ago. That said, both international and domestic trends point to a continued rise in the price of the food grain.