DUSHANBE, February 4, 2011, Asia-Plus — According to the findings of the monitoring conducted by specialists from the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT) at Dushanbe’s bazaars, gasoline and fodder price hike has led to a 7 percent increase in the price of milk in Tajikistan.
The source at a MEDT says the price of one liter of milk has risen from 3.30 somoni in December 2010 to 4.00 somoni. The milk price hike has resulted in prices of diary products increasing in the country. Over the report period, the dairy produce prices are said to have risen by 10 to 15 percent on average, he noted.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), prices of the livestock concentrated feed that is supplied from primarily Russia have also risen.
“Current wholesale price of milk for Tajik dairy factories is 2.00 somoni per liter, which is 20.00-30.00 dirams more than in December,” the source at a MoA said, adding that taking into account the world grain and fuel markets trends, one may suppose that prices of milk and other basic food products will continue to rise.
In the meantime, specialists from the limited liability company, Fabricai Shiri Saodat (the Saodat dairy factory), say rise in milk and diary produce prices has a seasonal nature. “Every year, production of milk comes down in the winter and dairy produce prices rise correspondingly and the prices fell slightly in the summer as the milk production increases,” said the Fabricai Shiri Saodat representative, “However, this year the prices have been affected by external factors as well. During 2010, our product prices rose by 60 dirams on average.”
