Farmers in India struggle because of the ban on wheat exports

In the context of the world facing a shortage of wheat Due to the conflict between the two major wheat exporting countries of the world, Russia and Ukraine, and due to the disruption in global supply, a number of countries have introduced bans on agricultural exports. India – the world’s second largest wheat producer on May 14 also imposed a ban on the export of this product on the grounds of protecting Food Security for country.

Not only causing food shortages in the world to become serious, India’s ban also put the country’s own farmers in trouble. For Mr. Rajwant Singh – wheat farmer in India, this year’s wheat season has a bitter taste. Partly because the heat has reduced wheat production, partly because India’s wheat export ban is causing the domestic price of this agricultural product to drop sharply.

“This year’s wheat season we have harvested half of the usual because of the heat. But that’s not over, the domestic price of wheat is still falling,” Mr. Rajwant Singh shared.

Farmers in India struggled because of the ban on wheat exports. (Photo: Reuters)

India is the world’s second-largest wheat producer, but the government, which is also the country’s largest buyer, said it has chosen to protect domestic food security despite inflation concerns.

Along with supplies from Russia and Ukraine both falling, world wheat prices are being pushed to all-time highs on commodity exchanges in the US and Europe. However, in Asia’s largest grain market in Khanna, in the Indian state of Punjab, wheat prices are moving in the opposite direction.

From Rs 2,300 (equivalent to VND 700,000) for 1 quintal of wheat before the export ban, the price dropped to Rupees 2,015 (about VND 600,000) – the minimum price set by the Government to buy grain for the system its extensive public distribution.

India’s wheat export ban is causing hundreds of millions of small farmers in the country, who have struggled to cope with extreme weather conditions, many difficulties. At this time, they are hoping that the Government will relax the ban so that the next wheat harvests are less “bitter”.

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