MAHFUZ ANAM

While the world was already passing through various challenges including Covid-19 pandemic, climate change that affected food production and supply chains, Ukraine war has further complicated the global situation in the food sector. This is more so as Russia and Ukraine are major food suppliers of the world. The Daily Star reached out to UN Food and Agriculture Organization Director-General Qu Dongyu, who toured Bangladesh early March,via email to understand the crises and ways out.

DS: With Russia-Ukraine war, energy supplies are being disrupted and prices are going up. What are its implications and what is FAO’s strategy to face this new situation?

Dongyu: Russia and Ukraine play a substantial role in global food production and supply. Together, they provide 19 percent of the world’s barley supply, 14 percent of wheat, and 4 percent of maize, making up more than one-third of global cereal exports. The global fertilizer supply is also highly concentrated, with Russia as the lead producer. Supply chain and logistical disruptions on Ukrainian and Russian grain and oilseed production and restrictions on Russia’s exports will have significant food security repercussions around the world. This is especially true for some 50 countries that depend on Russia and Ukraine for 30 percent or more of their wheat supply. Many of them are least developed countries or low-income, food-deficit countries in Northern Africa, Asia and the Near East. Many European and Central Asian countries rely on Russia for over 50 percent of their fertilizer supply, and shortages there could extend to next year. FAO has five policy recommendations to address this situation: keep global food and fertilizer trade open; find new and more diverse food suppliers; support vulnerable groups, including internally displaced people; avoid ad hoc policy reactions; and strengthen market transparency and dialogue.