SATV Mar. 10, Kathmandu: Global food prices increased in February, driven by rising energy and transport costs, as well as unfavorable weather conditions, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported Friday.

The FAO Food Price Index rose 1.6 percent compared to January and was 8.2 percent higher than a year earlier.

Dairy, vegetable oils, and sugar saw the largest price increases in February, while grain and cereal prices -- the index's largest component -- rose slightly, and meat prices declined.

Dairy prices climbed 4.0 percent from January, driven by increased global demand.

Vegetable oil price index rose 2.0 percent in February, pushing the index 29.1 percent above its year-ago level. Sugar recorded the sharpest monthly increase, rising 6.6 percent.

Prices for grains and cereals saw modest gains, rising 0.7 percent. Meat was the only subindex to decline, slipping 0.1 percent, mainly due to lower poultry prices. Nevertheless, meat prices remained 4.8 percent higher than a year earlier.