At UN, India's Covid Vaccine Swipe at West as it Defends Wheat Export Ban

India on Wednesday, 18 May 2022, expressed concern over the hoarding of food grains and discrimination amid an "unjustified increase" in food prices and cautioned the West that the issue should not go the way of Covid-19 vaccines, for which poor countries struggled even for initial doses, while rich nations had an excess of what they needed.

Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said that India's decision to restrict wheat exports will ensure it can "truly" respond to those most in need. "A number of low-income societies are today confronted with the twin challenges of rising costs and difficulty in access to food grains. Even those like India, which have adequate stocks, have seen an unjustified increase in food prices. It is clear that hoarding and speculation are at work. We cannot allow this to pass unchallenged," Mr Muraleedharan said.

"In order to manage our own overall food security and support the needs of neighbouring and other vulnerable developing countries, we have announced some measures regarding wheat exports on May 13, 2022," he said.

The Minister of State for External Affairs was speaking at the ministerial meeting on the 'Global Food Security Call to Action', which was chaired by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken under the US Presidency of the UN Security Council for May.

The minister emphasised that India will play its due role in advancing global food security and it will do so in a manner in which it upholds equity, displays compassion, and promotes social justice.

"We have already seen to our great cost how these principles were disregarded in the case of Covid-19 vaccines. Open markets must not become an argument to perpetuate inequity and promote discrimination," Mr Muraleedharan said, adding that it is necessary for all countries to adequately appreciate the importance of "equity, affordability and accessibility" when it comes to food grains.

Mr Muraleedharan also highlighted India's "track record" of helping its partners in distress, saying that even in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing conflicts including the war in Ukraine, the country has never been found wanting.

"In keeping with our ethos of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', (the world is one family) and our 'Neighbourhood First' policy, we will continue to assist our neighbours, in their hour of need, and stand by them, always," he said.

On May 13, India imposed a ban on wheat exports in a bid to check high prices amid a shortage of wheat due to a scorching heatwave.

According to the centre, the order served three main purposes - to ensure India's food security and check inflation, help other countries facing food deficit, and maintain India's reliability as a supplier.

While notifying the decision, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) last week said that wheat exports will be allowed on the basis of permission granted by the central government. "Besides, the government will allow exports on requests from other countries," it said.