World Bank asks countries to lift food-related trade restrictions to end global food crisis
The World Bank has called on countries that imposed embargo on the exportation of wheat and other food commodities to immediately lift all restrictions to bring the food crisis currently ravishing the world to an end.
“This is a matter of urgency: to defuse the food crisis, it’s imperative that all food-related trade restrictions imposed since the start of the year be lifted as swiftly as possible. The war in Ukraine has created needless suffering for the most vulnerable people everywhere. The global community has a duty to cooperate fully to expand the flow of food across the world —so the misery of hunger is not added to the mix,” reads part of an article co-written by Mari Elka Pangestu, World Bank Managing Director of Development Policy and Partner, and Axel van Trotsenburg, World Bank Managing Director of Operations.
According to the bank, an increasing number of countries are restricting wheat and other food commodity exports, exacerbating the global food crisis.
“It is a crisis made worse by the growing number of countries that are banning or restricting exports of wheat and other commodities in a misguided attempt to put a lid on soaring domestic prices. These actions are counterproductive they must be halted and reversed,” the article read in part.
According to the bank, the price of wheat in and other food commodities in many developing countries had gone up by 34 per cent since the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces. The development had forced several countries to impose several levels of bans on exportation of food and fertilizers.
The bank said that about 34 countries in July imposed restrictions on exports of food and fertilizers.
Acknowledging that about 36 countries had used the approach to survive the food crisis that hit the globe between 2008 and 2012, the bank called for the removal of every food-related trade restriction imposed by countries since the start of the year.
Nigeria is one of the countries affected by the global food crisis, as commodity prices, including food items, have continued to rise.
In July, the federal government issued a warning that, unless adequate action was done, the country’s current rise of food prices could push more Nigerians into poverty.
Dr Mohammad Abubakar, Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, claimed that the spike in food prices was a global problem driven mostly by climate change.
He explained that climate change had impacted negatively on agricultural production and was likely to pose grave threats to food security in the future.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
NationWide
Group urges FG to decongest custodial centres after Suleja jailbreak
”We also call on the public to pay more attention to issues concerning corrections in Nigeria.”
Politics
PDP unveils 200-member campaign council for Edo 2024 guber election
The advisory council has seven eminent members of the state.
Africa
ECOWAS moves to tackle drug abuse in Sierra Leone, other countries
ECOWAS said the workshop was also to support efforts to tackle drug abuse and provide resources and strategies for member states, particularly Sierra Leone.
Lagos
FG to resume resurfacing of Third Mainland Bridge: Official
She said that the exact dates for the renewed construction would be announced soon.
Agriculture
Gov. Makinde inaugurates cassava mechanisation production, processing plant in Oyo
He called on all stakeholders to support the project, saying its success depends on the collaboration.
Africa
Heavy rains, landslides kill dozens in Tanzania, Kenya
Mr Majaliwa, who disclosed Thursday, added that 236 had also been injured in the flood.