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Global Food Crisis and India!
Global
Food Crisis and India!
By-
Aditi Maheshwari
22-May-2022
Food insecurity globally
has a horrific human cost. Russia and Ukraine are largest exporters of wheat on
the world map, accounting for 30% of total wheat sale. The ongoing Russia –
Ukraine war has amplified the food crisis and shall leave its effects for years
to come. Ukraine’s ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk and others have been cut off
from the world by Russian invasion rendering the supply disrupted. Before the
invasion Ukraine exported 4.5 million tonnes of agricultural produce per month
through its ports. Most of the wheat shipments pass through Black Sea, which is
a battle ground currently with Russian warships stationed there. Result being
shortages and inflation.
In April 2022, India made
a record export of 1.4 million tonnes of wheat. Exports were made to South
Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe, West Asia averting a global food crisis.
New purchases were witnessed when Egypt and Turkey, who never bought Indian
wheat placed their orders to India. Turkey has ordered 50000 tonnes of Indian
wheat. Indian farmers are elated with their products reaching global markets.
Africa and West Asia are the most attractive markets for India, as these
countries are looking for cheap, good quality wheat and India fulfils both
their needs. However, the concern is whether India can sustain this demand and
supply chain. An intense heat wave is sweeping India, affecting wheat
production. India was expecting to produce 111 million tonnes of wheat by June.
That forecast got slashed and the latest figure now is 105 million tonnes.
Another concerning factor is price. Wheat prices have risen 15-20% in the last
few weeks. As per AFP report the price of wheat has jumped to 435 Euros ($453)
per tonne as the European market opened. Global wheat prices have risen, mainly
due to fear of food shortage. Fertiliser shortages and poor harvests have also promoted
global inflation and created fears of famine and social unrest in poorer
countries.
Wheat is the second most
consumed food grain in India after rice. So, Wheat if expensive will affects us
all. However, there is no immediate wheat crisis in India, but we can’t
discount the risk as India has more than millions of people to feed. Yet, its
exporting wheat to avert the global food crisis.
Well, the fact is India
has its own limits. After India banned the export of wheat, western countries
criticized the move. India on18th May called out the west and said that food
grains should not meet the fate of the Covid shots hoarding, media reports
said. Because of unreasonable increase in wheat prices, the restriction on
wheat exports was initiated with a cause that only genuine people affected by
such crisis are nourished and taken care of. Mitigating this crisis, especially
affecting the truly vulnerable group, is India’s priority and a balanced
approach while addressing hoarding and inflation issues. India needs to take
care of its people and climate costs also need to be accounted for. Due to the
intense heat wave electricity demand is quiet high leading the country to
import additional coal to keep its power grid going. This has an economic cost,
which will ripple beyond the subcontinent.
Despite rendering a
helping hand to avert global food crisis, we witness double standards of the
West. Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said, “Several low-income
societies are confronted with twin challenges of rising costs and difficulty in
accessing food grains. Unjustified increase in wheat prices has put India’s and
its neighbours and other vulnerable countries food security at risk. It is
necessary for us all to appreciate the importance of equity, affordability and
accessibility when it comes to food grains. We have already seen to our great
costs how these principles were disregarded in case of Covi-19vaccines”.
Countries need to rethink
their approach to dealing with crisis and shall be individually as well as
collectively responsible to safeguard one and all from disasters.
Pic Courtesy: iStock