BEIJING - The prices of farm produce in 36 major Chinese cities rose slightly in the week ending October 20 compared with the week earlier, a Ministry of Commerce statement said.

The average wholesale prices of 18 kinds of vegetables rose 1.8 percent from a week earlier with the prices of ginger, tomatoes and beans increasing 7.6 percent, 6.4 percent and 5.4 percent, respectively.

The average wholesale prices of aquatic products, however, dropped 0.1 percent and the prices of eggs shrank 0.5 percent from the previous week.

The cost of mutton went up 0.1 percent, beef prices maintained the same, and pork prices dropped 0.4 percent compared with last week.

The rise in the cost of vegetables was because of the temperature drop in certain areas, resulting in reduced supply which pushed prices up.

Food accounts for about one third of China's consumer price index (CPI), a main gauge of inflation.

The CPI rose 3.1 percent year on year in September, up from 2.6 percent in August.