Food security is once more under danger throughout the world, especially in poorer countries, since the agreement that allowed unrestricted access to supplies of food and fertiliser through the Black Sea channels to the international markets is in disarray.
Source: Statista
With Ukraine known as Europe’s breadbasket and the two warring nations ranking among the top producers of wheat, maize, barley, and sunflowers, the closure of the region’s ports would inevitably worsen food shortages and hunger in nations that rely on exports from the area.
33 million tonnes of grains travelled through Ukrainian seaports as part of the programme in the previous year, which helped to stabilise world food prices, giving an idea of the deal’s massive significance. Since Russia is India’s second-largest supplier and Ukraine provides about three-quarters of its needs for sunflower oil, India’s imports are expected to suffer.
Source: Channel 4 News
The situation has gotten worse as a result of the war, which has caused Ukraine’s agricultural production to dramatically decrease by about 35%, according to a study, even as Russia has lately targeted farm infrastructure and its Black Sea port of Odessa.
Russia is furious because its requests were rejected. Both countries are hesitant to compromise. The UN should act as a mediator to find a solution to the current deadlock, if not to put a stop to the hostilities, which threatens to deal a fatal blow to the underdeveloped countries.
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