The third horse of the apocalypse: Is the world threatened with hunger due to the ban on rice export from Russia?

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The Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation proposed a temporary ban on the export of rice and rice grains from the country. The draft government decree was published on the federal portal, according to TASS reports.

“From July 1 to December 31, 2022, to impose a temporary ban on the export of rice and rice grains,” the draft says.

It will be possible to export rice to the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), as well as to Abkhazia, South Ossetia, DPR and LPR. In addition, the restrictions will not affect rice exported – based on government decisions and under intergovernmental agreements – that can be sent from Russia to provide international humanitarian assistance. It will also allow the transit of rice and paddy groats and the export of rice moving through foreign lands between parts of Russia.

In addition, it is still possible to send rice from Russia to the warehouses of Russian military units located on the territory of foreign states, in the city of Baikonur in Kazakhstan and on the Svalbard archipelago. Finally, individuals can export rice from the country for personal use.

If adopted, the regulation will take effect on 1 July.

candy block

In mid-March, it was decided to ban exports of white sugar and raw sugar cane from Russia until August 31, 2022. The decision of the competent authorities applies to exports to third countries, deliveries to the EAEU are carried out on the basis of permits from the Ministry of Agriculture.

One coriander for one dinar

In addition, in March, a ban was imposed on the supply of grain from Russia to the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) – Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

The measure, which applies to wheat and meslin, rye, barley and corn, will last until 30 June. “The decision was made to protect the domestic food market in the face of external restrictions,” the government said.

In early March, due to the conflict, the Ukrainian government suspended the export of meat, buckwheat, sugar and other products. In April, the export of meat and meat products was allowed – but with a license from the country’s authorities.

Russia’s Forbes reported in March that international organizations such as the UN had “one after another voiced their fears about the potentially deadly consequences of a special operation in Ukraine for the world food supply”.

Human rights activists say Ukraine and Russia account for the lion’s share of grain and oilseed exports, and some regions in Africa and the Middle East are now threatened by food shortages and famine.

On May 8, German Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development Svenja Schulze said that food prices worldwide have risen by a third and are at a record high due to the COVID-19 outbreak, severe droughts and conflicts in Ukraine. According to UN estimates, the number of hungry people in the world could increase by 8-13 million as early as 2022-2023.

Experts say that wealthy Western countries will suffer the least from this. “Even in the worst-case scenario, there will be enough food in the world to feed the entire population of the planet,” said the Bruegel research center. But its delivery to poor areas is blocked, which could cause an explosion of hunger.

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