India calls out the West, says food grains shouldn’t go the way of Covid vaccines
By Agencies, 19/05/2022, Agartala
Agartala May 19: The UN meeting came just days after India's last Friday decision to ban wheat exports in a bid to check high prices amid shortage of wheat due to scorching heatwave.
Calling out the West, India on Wednesday said that food grains should not go the way of the Covid-19 vaccines as it voiced concern over hoarding and discrimination amid the “unjustified increase” in food prices.
It stressed that its decision to restrict wheat exports will ensure it can truly respond to those most in need.
“A number of low-income societies are today confronted with the twin challenges of rising costs and difficulty in access to food grains. Even those like India, who have adequate stocks, have seen an unjustified increase in food prices. It is clear that hoarding and speculation is at work. We cannot allow this to pass unchallenged,” Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said in the UN Wednesday.
The meeting came just days after India’s last Friday decision to ban wheat exports in a bid to check high prices amid shortage of wheat due to scorching heatwave.
The decision is aimed at controlling the retail prices of wheat and wheat flour — which have risen by an average 14-20 per cent in the last one year — and meet the foodgrain requirement of neighbouring and vulnerable countries.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) had, in the last week’s notification, said that wheat exports will be allowed on the basis of permission granted by the central government.
At the high-level meeting, India spoke about the issue of the wheat export ban for the first time in the UN since its May 13 announcement.
Muraleedharan said the Indian government has recognised the sudden spike in global prices of wheat which put “our food security and those of our neighbours and other vulnerable countries at risk.”
“We are committed to ensuring that such adverse impact on food security is effectively mitigated and the vulnerable cushioned against sudden changes in the global market,” he said.
“In order to manage our own overall food security and support the needs of neighbouring and other vulnerable developing countries, we have announced some measures regarding wheat exports on 13 May 2022,” he added.
India called out the West and cautioned that the issue of food grains should not go the way of Covid-19 vaccines, which were purchased by the rich nations in quantities excess of what they needed, leaving the poor and less developed nations scrambling to administer even the initial doses to their people.
“It is necessary for all of us to adequately appreciate the importance of equity, affordability and accessibility when it comes to food grains,” he said.
India underlined that the global impact of Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing conflicts, including in Ukraine, has impacted lives of ordinary people adversely, particularly in the developing countries, with spiralling energy and commodity prices and disruptions in global logistical supply chains.