New York: The US hopes India will reconsider its decision to ban wheat exports, with Washington encouraging” countries not to restrict exports as that will exacerbate food shortages, amidst Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
India, the world’s second-biggest wheat producer, has banned wheat exports in a bid to check high domestic prices amid concerns of wheat output being hit by scorching heat waves.
The decision would help control retail prices of wheat and wheat flour, which have risen by an average 14-20 per cent in the last one year, besides meeting the foodgrain requirement of neighbouring and vulnerable countries.
US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield, during a virtual New York Foreign Press Center briefing on Monday, said: 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 .
But you’ve again, India will be one of the countries participating in our meeting at the Security Council, and we hope that they can, as they hear the concerns being raised by other countries, that they would reconsider that position, she said.
Thomas-Greenfield was responding to a question on India’s decision to restrict wheat exports.
The US envoy said that Ukraine used to be a breadbasket for the developing world, but ever since Russia started blocking crucial ports and destroying civilian infrastructure and grain silos, hunger situations in Africa and the Middle East are getting even more dire.
This is a crisis for the whole world, and so it belongs to the UN. We have a responsibility to the millions who are worried about where they’ll find their next meal or how they’ll feed their families. This week is about owning that responsibility and taking action to alleviate food insecurity around the globe, she said.
The US is President of the UN Security Council for the month of May and will host a signature event on food security this week against the backdrop of international conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war that have brought food insecurity to the fore.
On May 19, Secretary of State Antony Blinken will preside over an open debate on the Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Conflict and Food Security.’
On the eve of the Security Council meeting, Blinken on Wednesday will chair a global food security call to action ministerial meeting which will bring together officials from dozens of countries to review their urgent humanitarian and development needs to address global food security, nutrition and resilience, Thomas-Greenfield said.
—PTI

Press Trust of India