Wheat export ban: India says it is a humanitarian measure, and food grains should not suffer the same fate as Covid shots
*Paromita Das
Concerned about hoarding and discrimination, India warned the West on Wednesday that food grains should not suffer the same fate as the Covid shots. This comes as food prices have risen ‘unjustifiably.’ It emphasized that the decision to limit wheat exports was made so that it could truly respond to people in need.
“A number of low-income societies are today confronted with the twin challenges of rising costs and difficulty in accessing food grains,” said Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Wednesday.
Even countries with ample supplies, such as India, have seen unjustified increases in food prices. There is no doubt that hoarding and speculation are at work. We cannot let this go unchallenged.”
Muraleedharan made the statement at a ministerial meeting on the ‘Global Food Security Call to Action.’
The meeting was presided over by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, as part of the US Presidency of the United Nations Security Council in May.
During the UN meeting, India addressed the issue of the wheat export ban for the first time since its announcement on May 13.
“The Indian government has recognised the rise in global wheat prices, which threatens our food security as well as that of our neighbours and other vulnerable countries.” “We are committed to ensuring that such negative impacts on food security are effectively mitigated and the vulnerable are protected from sudden changes in the global market,” Muraleedharan said.
“We have announced some measures regarding wheat exports on May 13, 2022, in order to manage our own overall food security and support the needs of neighbouring and other vulnerable developing countries,” he said.
“Let me be clear: these measures permit export based on approvals to those countries that are required to meet their food security demands.” This will be done at the request of the respective governments. “Such a policy will ensure that we truly respond to those in need,” he said.
“When it comes to food grains, all of us must recognise the importance of equity, affordability, and accessibility.” We have already seen how these principles were ignored at great cost in the case of Covid-19 vaccines. “Open markets must not be used to justify inequity and discrimination,” Muraleedharan added.
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