TIME TO ACT TOGETHER: COORDINATING POLICY RESPONSES TO THE GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY CRISIS

High Level Special Event

Monday, 18 July 2022, from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. (EDT) 

Trusteeship Council Chamber, United Nations Headquarters, New York

DRAFT INTERVENTION (3 minutes)

Interactive Dialogue: Coordinated Responses at local, national and regional levels 

Mr. President, 

Excellencies, 


 We thank the President of the General Assembly and the Committee on World Food Security for convening this high-level special event. It is indeed a most timely initiative and in keeping with the necessity of garnering a global collective response to this critical issue.

2. The global impact of Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing conflicts, including in Ukraine, has impacted lives of ordinary people adversely, particularly in the developing countries, with spiraling energy and commodity prices and disruptions in global logistical supply chains.

3. The Global South has been adversely impacted both by the conflict itself, as well as by the various measures put in place in response. If the conflict does not give way to a meaningful path of dialogue and diplomacy immediately, there will be severe repercussions in the global economy which will derail the efforts of the Global South to secure food security and eradicate hunger in the run up to 2030. Time has indeed come to start factoring in its multidimensional impact which it is having on the Global South, especially the vulnerable developing countries.

4. We have noted Secretary General’s initiative of establishing a Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy and Finance (GCRG). We appreciate Secretary General’s call for exempting purchases of food by WFP for humanitarian assistance from food export restrictions with immediate effect.

5. 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, who have adequate stocks, have seen an unjustified increase in food prices. It is clear that hoarding and speculation is at work. We cannot allow this to pass unchallenged.

6. Indian Government has recognized the sudden spike in global prices of wheat which put our food security and those of our neighbours and other vulnerable countries at risk. We are committed to ensuring that such adverse impact on food security is effectively mitigated and the vulnerable cushioned against sudden changes in the global market. 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 13 May 2022.

7. As we have stated on previous occasions, these measures allow for export on the basis of approvals to those countries who are required to meet their food security demands. This will be done on the request from the concerned governments. Such a policy will ensure that we will truly respond to those who are most in need.

8. It is necessary for all of us to adequately appreciate the importance of equity, affordability and accessibility when it comes to food grains. 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.

9. As for our own track record of helping our partners in distress, even in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing conflicts, India has never been found wanting. We have provided food aid in the form of thousands of metric tonnes of wheat, rice, pulses, and lentils to several countries, including our neighborhood and Africa, to strengthen their food security.

10. In view of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, India is donating 50,000 Metric tonnes of wheat to the people of Afghanistan. India has continued its humanitarian support for Myanmar, including a grant of 10,000 tons of rice and wheat. We are also assisting Sri Lanka including with food assistance, during these difficult times.

11. India has exported more than 250,000 tons of wheat to Yemen, in the last three months. At last week’s UNSC briefing, UN OCHA too appreciated India’s role in this. India remains strongly committed to the cause of global food security and also has contributed to UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and the UNOCHA in response to various humanitarian crises over the years. Our spearheading of the UN General Assembly Resolution for declaring Year- 2023 as the “International Year of Millets” was aimed at addressing similar such food security challenges.

Mr. President, 

12. India is running the world’s largest food-based safety net programme, which has seen a paradigm shift from welfare to a rights-based approach. To achieve targeted delivery during Covid-19, food assistance to 800 million people and cash transfers to 400 million people were provided by the Government. India’s mid-day meal programme continues to tackle undernourishment in school children by ensuring provision of healthy meals. A nutrition drive has also been launched, especially for vulnerable groups, women, and children. Our Farm-to-Table digital initiatives include Farmer’s Portals, farm-advisory services, online network of agricultural commodities, price prediction and use of blockchain technology for quality certification.

13. In conclusion, Mr. President, let me emphasise that the solution to these challenges lies in global collective action. India will play its due role in advancing global food security. And it will do so in a manner in which it will uphold equity, display compassion and promotes social justice.

Thank you Mr. President.

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