Find out the appropriate word/phrase to fill the blank (i) in the given passage.

Directions: In the following passage, there are blanks, each of which has been numbered. Choose the option out of the five words/phrases which fits the blank appropriately.

Economic growth figures for the first quarter of this financial year seem to support the claim that the worst may be over for the Indian economy. The gradual revival is also an indication that the government's economic stimulus package is ___(i)___. What could, however, upset the positive outlook is the drought which ___(ii)___ large parts of the country and its impact on overall growth. Even though the monsoon had picked up ___(iii)___, the rains received were grossly ___(iv)___. There are clear ___(v)___ that farm output, particularly cereals, will fall drastically. Insufficient rain is bound to shoot up the ___(vi)___ of agricultural commodities and that would impact the economy as a whole. The drought would also ___(vii)___ to a drastic reduction in rural employment and consumption besides inflation in the prices of food articles.
Food prices have been ___(viii)___ since the past few months, and lower agricultural production is likely to ___(ix)___ the situation. The government has said that food grain from the buffer stocks will be used to keep prices ___(x)___. Subsidised food grain is necessary in these times, but its effectiveness will depend a lot on the distribution system.