India announced on Saturday to ban wheat exports in the face of declining production, especially due to intense heat waves, a decision that would “exacerbate the crisis” of grain supply in the war in Ukraine, if the G7 is alarmed. .
The world’s second largest producer of wheat, India has decided to ban the export of this commodity, unless with special permission from the government, to ensure Food Safety of its 1.4 billion people.
Export contracts are concluded before the order is executed, the proposal only concerns future exports. For the latter, India will approve requests from other countries on a case -by -case basis. to meet their needs.
A market under strong tension
Gathered in Stuttgart, Germany, the G7 Agriculture Ministers immediately criticized this decision, which came as the world wheat market is already under intense tension due to the conflict in Ukraine.
If everyone starts imposing such export restrictions or even closing markets, it will only exacerbate the crisis and it will also hurt India and its farmers.said German Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir after a meeting with his counterparts.
” We spoke out against export restrictions and called for keeping markets open […]. We call on India to fulfill its responsibilities as a member of the G20. “
Launched on February 24, Russia’s military offensive in Ukraine has seriously disrupted agricultural activity in this country’s countryside, having until then been the world’s fourth largest exporter of corn and heading towards becoming the third largest exporter of wheat.
Due to the blockade imposed on Ukrainian ports, about 20 tonnes of grain are waiting in traps to be exported and this year’s harvest is in danger.
Rising prices and scarcity pose the risk of famine and social unrest, particularly in the poorest countries that are massively importing their grain needs.
This context also raises fears of protectionist measures on the part of exporting countries: at the end of April, Indonesia, the world’s largest producer of palm oil, banned palm oil exports to curb rising palm oil prices. domestic market prices and shortages.
As of Saturday, India had expressed their readiness to assist world markets in the event of supply problems.
Our farmers have made sure to take care of not only India but the whole worldsaid Minister of Trade and Industry Piyush Goyal last month.
The country has indicated that it wants to increase annual wheat exports, from 1eh April, from 7 to 10 million tons, bringing air to the sector.
intense heat waves
On Thursday, New Delhi also announced that delegations will travel to several countries in North Africa, Turkey, Vietnam, Thailand and even Lebanon to study ways to boost wheat exports from India. It was unclear on Saturday whether those trips were retained.
The New Delhi announcement comes as India has been battling extreme heat for two months: the country experienced the hottest March in its history, and the heatwave has continued in recent weeks with temperatures sometimes above 45 degrees.
According to climate change experts, such heat waves are expected to hit India more often.
Earlier this month, the government indicated that these climatic conditions would lead, for the first time in six years, to a decrease in wheat yield, which is at least 5% compared to 2021. About 110 million tonnes the harvest last year.
On Saturday, the Minister of Agriculture meeting in Stuttgart had them recommended to discuss India’s decision at the G7 Heads of State and Government meeting in June, which India will attend as a guest.
Source: Radio-Canada
