DUSHANBE, March 6, Asia-Plus –  A spike in gasoline prices has led to a considerable increase in the price of basic food products in Gorno Badakhshan, Valdosh Valdoshev, a specialist with the GBAO directorate for economic development and antimonopoly policy, said in an interview with Pamir Media. 

According to him, compared to the last year the price of wheat flour has risen by 60 percent, the price of vegetable oil has risen by 100 percent, the price of tea has risen by more than 40 percent and the price of dried milk has risen by nearly 50 percent.

Today, the price of one liter of vegetable oil is 9 somonis, the price for a 50-kilogram sack of flour is 135 somonis and the price of one kilogram of dried milk is 19 somonis. 

“Food products are delivered to the region mainly from Dushanbe and the price hike has resulted from rising gasoline prices and transportation expenses,” said the specialist.  “Besides, many traders have taken loans from banks and they have raised prices in order to repay their loans.”        

In the meantime, prices of local farm produce remain low and farmers have narrow margin, Valdoshev said.