The war in Ukraine will cause a 20% increase in the price of food
International food and feed prices could rise by 8-20% as a result of the conflict in Ukraine, leading to a rise in malnourished people around the world, the UN food agency said on Friday. Reuters.
According to information transmitted by the renowned news agency, in a preliminary assessment of Russia's invasion of its neighboring country, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) said that it was not whether Ukraine would be able to harvest crops during a protracted conflict, and that the uncertainty also affected Russian food exports.
The FAO said Russia was the world's largest wheat exporter, while Ukraine was fifth. Together they provide 19% of the world's supply of barley, 14% of wheat and 4% of maize, and account for more than a third of world cereal exports.
Russia is also a world leader in the export of fertilizers.
"Likely disruptions to agricultural activities in these two major commodity exporters could seriously aggravate global food insecurity," FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu said in a statement.
The body's food price index hit an all-time high in February, and looks set to rise further in coming months as the fallout from the conflict reverberates around the world.
Between 20% and 30% of the fields used to grow winter grains, maize and sunflowers in Ukraine will not be planted or will remain unharvested during the 2022/23 season, according to the FAO, which added that Russian exports could be affected. by international sanctions.
The FAO said that 50 countries, including many of the least developed nations, depend on Russia and Ukraine for 30% or more of their wheat supplies, leaving them especially vulnerable.
“The global number of undernourished people could increase by between 8 million and 13 million people in 2022/23,” the FAO said, adding that the largest increases would be seen in the Asia-Pacific region, followed by sub-Saharan Africa.
Source: Reuters
Miami Daily
Author: Emery Barreto 12:36 pm