Nigeria, April 8 -- Global food commodity prices rose for the 10th conservative month in March, led by vegetable oils and dairy products, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations has said.

The FAO said this in its Food Price Index report released on Thursday. The index tracks International prices of most commonly traded food commodities.

The FAO food price index averaged 118.5 points in March, 2.1 per cent higher than in February and reaching its highest level since June 2014.

It said the March increase was led by the FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index which rose 8.0 per cent from the previous month and making its highest level since June 2011.

"The persistent strength of the index was driven by higher values of palm, so...