The cost of India’s food nationalism

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As the Russia-Ukraine war continues with no end in sight, countries across the world are imposing new restrictions on food exports. Many countries have banned essential items such as edible oils, poultry and grains. Now experts fear this protectionist move by governments could lead to the worst food crisis the world has seen in decades. India too, recently announced curbs on its wheat and sugar exports. The decision came after an unseasonal heatwave in the country affected crops and drove domestic prices to a record high. But critics say it could lead to further food inflation and price fluctuations. Is India prepared to face the consequences of export bans from other countries as well? Will this move trigger further disruptions in the food supply chain? And do export bans have a larger geopolitical impact? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the cost of India’s food nationalism. Presenter: Devina Gupta Contributors: Dr Avinash Kishore, research fellow, International Food Policy Research Institute; Devinder Sharma, food trade and policy analyst; Anu Meena, founder and CEO, Agrowave