KULOB, July 27, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Despite calls of local authorities, merchants running their shops at Kulob’s bazaars have raised prices of all food products by 3 to 12 percent on the threshold of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.

The price for a 50-kilogram sack of flour has been raised from 132.000 to 135.00 somoni.  The price of ‘non’ (flat bread) has risen 25 percent - from 2.00 somoni to 2.50 somoni.

In the meantime, the district consumer cooperative union has failed to organize sale of a number of basic food products at prices lower than the market ones.  They have not opened shops at local bazaars for farmers from the nearby villages.