The United States expressed its concern over India’s decision to ban wheat exports worldwide.
The US hopes “India would reconsider” its decision to revoke the ban. The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has left the world in a major food crisis.
Now India’s move to ban wheat exports is likely to worsen. “We have seen the report of India’s decision. We’re encouraging countries not to restrict exports because we think any restrictions on exports will exacerbate the food shortages. We hope they hear the concerns being raised by other countries, that they would reconsider that position,” US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said during a press briefing.
Agriculture ministers from the Group of Seven nations (G7) also emphasised that India’s decision to ban wheat exports would worsen the global food shortage.
Notably, global wheat prices surged by a record 6 per cent on Monday. Also, Europe is witnessing a new high as the prices rose to 435 euros ($453) per tonne (100 kg) at the benchmark Euronext market.
Experts believe India’s decision, coupled with the Ukraine war, will create a serious problem globally. Russia and Ukraine jointly accounted for about 30 per cent of global wheat exports before the war.
On the other hand, wheat production in India has been affected because of a brutal heatwave.
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