Wheat, maize led global food price rise for a consecutive month in March

Second monthly rise indicates trend will continue in near term

Wheat and maize led global food price increases for a consecutive month in March, due to forecasts of lower output this year following unfavourable weather.

A report on Thursday by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations showed a 1.1 per cent rise in its Food Price Index in March to 172.8 points. At this level, it was 0.7 per cent above its value of the corresponding month last year.

As in February, the month-on-month increase was driven primarily by stronger global prices of cereal and dairy products. Whereas the price of sugar and vegetable oils fell