There was a time when Europe was called the ‘bread basket’. After independence, India has fed its large population by importing wheat from Australia for a long time. But today India is a leading country in the production of many essential food items, not only wheat. Due to the effect of hot winds, the total production of wheat has been 106 million tonnes per annum, as against the estimate of 111.3 million tonnes. In Punjab alone, the productivity per acre has declined by five quintals, yet India is full of food grains.
That is why India was able to provide free ration to eighty crore poor people even during the Corona epidemic. Whereas due to the war of Russia and Ukraine, the crisis of bread in Europe has deepened. On this catastrophe, the United Nations has warned that the world has only ten weeks, that is, seventy days of wheat left. It has also been said in such a situation, if the WTO gives permission, then it is ready to eradicate the hunger of the world. Therefore, in the case of wheat, the eyes of the world are towards India.
Due to the Russo-Ukraine war, the system of export of wheat and other food items has been disturbed. Dozens of countries in Europe, West Asia and North Africa are grappling with food shortages. Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka are also not untouched by this. In such a situation, India has emerged as a major country, which is exporting food grains, technical equipment and medicines to the world on a large scale today. On the basis of humanity, India has given two consignments of food grains to Sri Lanka, which was drowned in debt by China on the pretext of development. This abundance of food grains is due to those farmers who are still the most exploited and suffering due to corruption.
But India has currently banned the export of wheat. America and European countries are worried about this. The head of the UN’s ‘Go Intelligence’, Sarah Menker, has warned that the ‘world is facing extraordinary challenges in the supply of food. In this, crises like shortage of fertilizers, climate change, shortage of edible oil and grain stocks are deepening. As a result, we are headed for an extraordinary human tragedy and economic loss, almost 50 million people in forty three countries are on the verge of starvation.
In fact, Russia and Ukraine supply wheat to a quarter of the world’s countries. The conflict has led Western countries to fear that Russian President Vladimir Putin may use wheat exports as a diplomatic weapon. In Russia this year, the wheat crop has been bountiful, while in the US and Europe, wheat production has decreased due to bad weather. In such a situation, the eyes of these countries are fixed on India to get rid of helplessness. Naturally, there is increasing international pressure on India to export wheat. After European countries, now America has also asked India to reconsider the decision.
Here, India’s stand is clear that it will take care of its diplomatic interests in terms of wheat exports. The countries to which wheat is to be supplied will be decided by assessing their position in the global system. Clearly, India will supply wheat to those countries with which it has good bilateral relations. Presently the world is looking at India as the main wheat supplier.
US Representative to the United Nations Linda Thomas Greenfield has also said that we will request India to lift the ban on wheat exports to deal with this global crisis. Although India has not completely banned the export of wheat, but to be honest, it has been controlled. India is providing wheat to friendly and neighboring countries.
Actually there are two ways of exporting food grains internationally. One for helping countries in distress in international calamities and the other for profit in business. The Indian government has banned the second method. Nevertheless, the World Trade Organization (WTO) and G-7 countries are raising questions on India’s export restrictions. Some economists in India have also condemned this restriction.
It is being said that the global liberal image of India will be affected by this initiative. In fact, now mainly the western countries want the farmers of India to increase the production of only wheat instead of more production of other crops, so that India can get a permanent place for export of wheat in the world market. This place has also become vacant due to the Russo-Ukraine war. Such requests are going for the fulfillment of human responsibilities. But Indian interests are being ignored in the context of this so-called humanity.
Actually, it is a matter to think in this context that if India increases the area under wheat cultivation, then it will have to reduce the area under paddy, oilseeds and pulses. As a result, India will lose its self-reliance in respect of these crops and will be forced to import, which can lead to higher food prices in the country over a period of time.
Anyway, India’s share in the export market of wheat is only 0.47 percent, which is between one and 125 million tonnes. Despite this, India not only gives wheat to the needy countries, but also free of cost. Sri Lanka is the latest example of this. Anyway, Russia, America, Canada, France, Ukraine, Australia and Argentina account for more than seventy five percent of the world market for wheat exports.
This diplomatic intention of India is also related to the unnecessary pressure of WTO. This global organization believes that India and other developing countries are violating international trade rules by giving more agricultural subsidies to their farmers. Not only agriculture, but the condition of improving animal and fisheries in India is also being looked at by western countries.
India has also facilitated exports by promoting the production of food items associated with these industries, while the main reason for the prosperity of western countries is dairy, fisheries and exports. As a result, these countries want to keep curbs on all types of food production of India through WTO.
Due to rising prices in the world market, India’s wheat and rice are being demanded by the needy countries. At present, India exports rice to one hundred and fifty countries and wheat to sixty-eight countries. In the financial year 2021-22, India exported seven million tonnes of wheat. Due to the increasing demand in the global market, traders have also signed contracts for exporting three million tonnes of wheat.
The godowns of the Food Corporation of India are full of food grains. It is necessary to keep one crore thirty six lakh tonnes of rice in safe stock, whereas about two crore two crore two lakh tonnes of rice are available in the godowns. Anyway, India is the second largest producer of wheat and rice in the world. That is why India has also said that if the WTO allows, India is ready to supply food to the world immediately.