DUSHANBE, February 5, 2009 Asia-Plus  -- Increase in the exchange rate of the dollar against the somoni has led to 10% to 25% percent increase in the prices of the imported basic food products on Dushanbe markets.

Thus, the price for a 50 kilogram of sack of grade 1 wheat flour of on Dushanbe’s Shohmansour market has risen from 98-100 somoni on January 31 to 108 somoni (some 10 percent increase), with similar price rises on other markets of the capital.  Kazakhstan and Russia provide the bulk Tajikistan’s grain and flour imports.

The price of one kilogram of sugar on the Shohmansour market has risen from 2.60 somoni on January 31 to 3.00 somoni (15 percent increase).  In the meantime, the price for a 50-kilogram of sugar has risen from 110 to 140-145 somoni (27 to 31 percent increase).  Tajikistan imports sugar mainly from Russia, Iran and Ukraine.

The price of one liter of vegetable oil on the market has risen from 6.00-8.50 somoni, depending on the producer country, on January 31 to 7.50-10.00 somoni (25% and 17% increase).  Vegetable oil is imported mainly from Kazakhstan, Russia and Iran.

In the meantime, prices of basic food products produced in Tajikistan have remained unchanged.  The price of one kilogram of potatoes is 1.50 somoni, carrots – 1.00 somoni, and onions – 2.00-2.50 somoni.  The price of one kilogram of beef is 17 somoni and the price of one kilogram of rice fluctuates from 5.00 to 9.00 somoni, depending on grade.