DUSHANBE, September 12, 2009, Asia-Plus  - Prices of basic food products have still remained unchanged at Dushanbe’s bazaars during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Despite expectations of a number local experts, prices of basic food products such as wheat flour, sugar, vegetable oil, potatoes, onions, carrots and so forth have not yet risen at Dusahnbe’s markets; on contrary prices of some basic food products have even fallen.

For example, the price for a 50-kilogram sack of wheat four at Dushanbe’s Shohmansour bazaar fluctuated from 85 to 95 somoni on September 11.  The price of one kilogram of sugar is 3.50-3.70 somoni.  The price of one liter of vegetable oil is 7.00 to 10 somoni, depending on the producer country, and the price of one liter of the cooking (cotton) oil is 6.00 somoni.  The price of one kilogram of rice fluctuates from 6.00 to 12 somoni, depending on grade.

Prices of some farm products have decreased compared to early August.  The price of one kilogram of potatoes and carrots has decreased from 1.40-1.50 somoni on August 1, 2009 to 0.80-1.00 somoni.  The price of one kilogram of onions has decreased from 1.00 somoni on August 1 to 0.80 somoni.

As far as meat prices are concerned, the price of one kilogram of beef has also not changed and is 17 somoni.

We will recall that local experts have expected the food product prices to rise in the country some ten days before the Idi Qurbon (Eid ul Fitr) that marks the end of Ramadan. 

As it had been reported earlier, Dushanbe city authorities instructed shops on August 24 to decrease the prices of imported foods by 10 percent and domestic food products by 15 percent.  In he meantime, merchants say it is not possible for them to follow the mayor’s office’s order.