"We already have enough food for our people but our farmers seem to have made arrangements to feed the world."
― Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India
Russia and Ukraine constitute the world's food basket. They account for roughly one-third of the global wheat sales. They also supply nearly 15% of the total corn and barley, as well as 55% of the sunflower oil.
The food supply chain has been hampered by the conflict in Ukraine and the following sanctions on Russia. It has added to the factors of the worldwide crop problems that have been driving up prices ever since the war started.
Before Russia attacked Ukraine, analysts feared that an invasion may cause a world food catastrophe. After all, Russia is the world's top exporter of fertiliser, and together with Ukraine, Russia exports more than 25% of the world's wheat.
A ‘perfect storm’ in global agriculture, as described by Ertharin Cousin, former executive director of the World Food Program, has contributed to a rise in food prices and food insecurity globally since the start of the war.
As the world faces a severe food crisis, India has stepped up once again as a responsible country committed to all possible help to the rest of the globe. India has exported 1.8 million tonnes of wheat to over a dozen countries, including Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
Food secretary Sudhanshu Pandey, while addressing the ministerial conference on uniting for global food security held in Berlin, Germany on June 24 said, “India has always taken the needs of the world into consideration, even while meeting the onerous obligations of feeding its population of 1.38 billion people”.
During the fiscal year 2021–2022, India exported a record 7 million tonnes of wheat, compared to its usual 2 million tonnes, or around 1% of the world's wheat trade. However, on May 13, the government suspended wheat export with immediate effect. The decision aimed to control rising wheat prices in the domestic market.
To improve wheat production, India is sincerely attempting to implement a holistic approach to agriculture and make it more sustainable. Notably through enhancing crop diversification and production techniques, as well as efficient water and soil management.Through crop evaluation and the digitization of land records, digital technology is now significantly contributing to the empowerment of Indian farmers. In the food business, waste utilisation, resource recovery, and circular economies are being used as sustainable food processing techniques to lower the total carbon footprint.
The Indian farmers are gearing up to feed the world.
Bibliography:
n.a “India Will Ramp up Foodgrain Production, Committed to Help in Global Food Crisis: Mandaviya.” The Hindu. 26 May, 2022. Web. 31 Jul, 2022. <www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-will-ramp-up-foodgrain-production-committed-to-help-in-global-food-crisis-mandaviya/article65463536.ece.>
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