India calls out West over food crisis, says food grains shouldn't go the way of Covid vaccines
He said, “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."
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New York, May 19: Rasing voice of concern over hoarding and discrimination amid the “unjustified increase” in food prices, India called out the West during a high-level ministerial meeting on 'Global Food Security-Call to Action' and said that food grains should not meet the fate of the Covid shots.
Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan made this remark while addressing the 'Global Food Security-Call to Action' that was chaired by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in New York. He said that the COVID-19 epidemic, as well as the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, have afflicted developing countries with spiralling energy and commodity prices and disturbances in global logistical supply chains.
He said, “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."
During his speech in New York, Union Minister V Muraleedharan mentioned the Global Report on Food Crisis and stated that according to the 2022 report, 139 million people have endured conflict-induced acute food insecurity all across the world. It has increased about 30% from earlier estimates.
“Indian government has recognised the 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,” Muraleedharan 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 said.
Muraleedharan highlighted India’s “track record” of helping its partners in distress, saying that even in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing conflicts, India has never been found wanting.
“We have provided food aid in the form of thousands of metric tonnes of wheat, rice, pulses, and lentils to several countries, including our neighbourhood and Africa, to strengthen their food security,” he said, adding that in view of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, India is donating 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat to its people.
Also Read | India bans wheat export with immediate effect
“In keeping with our ethos of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, (the world is one family) and our ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, we will continue to assist our neighbours, in their hour of need, and stand by them, always,” he said.
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