Ukraine Grains.
Ukraine is known as the world's breadbasket...
Some of us ridicule our country at every slightest opportunity that we get, we exploit it for political gains and expediency, we feel joy when our prediction of predicament seems correct then wonder why our country and citizenry our perceived the way they do outside our shores. In as much as constructive criticism is necessary and a panacea for the ineptitude of leadership, exploring possible ways forward in the face of realities is key because as it stands at the moment you can't change the runners of the system in immediate, so profer solutions first of all. Let's elucidate ourselves a bit before we cry partisanship.
Ukraine is known as the world's bread basket, and they are currently running a programme that relates to food supply across Africa. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the United Nations (UN);
The Russian Federation's full-scale military invasion of Ukraine's sovereign territory is not only bringing death to Ukrainians. By fighting and disrupting traditional supply chains, the Russians have pushed at least 70 million people around the world to the brink of starvation. A total of 345 million people suffer from catastrophic food shortages. Eighty-two countries need food aid (according to the UN). The demand for agricultural products in the world is growing by 2-3% annually, and the shortage of grain in the markets of Africa and Asia could reach 10-15% as early as 2024. The global food market needs more flexibility, which means that it will be impossible to replace Ukrainian products through diversification from other countries in the next 4-5 years.
Grain from Ukraine is a humanitarian food programme launched by President of Ukraine Volodymyr on 26 November 2022 and presented during the first inaugural International Food Security Summit in Kyiv. As a result of the Summit, the Grain from Ukraine programme has accumulated support in the amount of about USD 220 million. The amount of the contribution and the number of donor countries are not final. It is planned to increase the contributions of individual countries, as well as to attract new countries and enterprises to participate in the initiative. In cooperation with the UN World Food Programme, Ukraine and the programme's partner countries identify recipient countries for Ukrainian grain from among those countries facing acute food shortages. More than 30 countries and international organisations have joined the Grain from Ukraine programme.
Programme objective
The programme will help overcome the humanitarian and economic consequences of the global food crisis caused by Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine. Since the beginning of the initiative, Ukraine, with the participation of WFP, has sent 170,000 tonnes of wheat to countries with the most difficult food situation, including Ethiopia, Somalia, Yemen and Kenya. The programme is planned to be expanded to Nigeria, Sudan, Mozambique/Malawi, Madagascar, Djibouti, Liberia, Mauritania, Lebanon and other countries. Under the programme, it is planned to send about 60 ships with grain to the poorest countries in Africa. The aim is to purchase agricultural products directly from Ukrainian producers and transfer them to countries on the verge of famine.
Why did Ukraine launch this programme?
Ukraine's agricultural exports are vital for many countries on the African continent. Ukraine has been and remains the world's largest exporter of sunflower oil, and Ukrainian grains account for a significant share of global markets. Before the outbreak of the full-scale war, Ukraine accounted for over 15% of global corn exports, 10% of wheat, 15-20% of barley and over 50% of sunflower oil. Despite the serious consequences of Russia's full-scale unprovoked aggression and the terror it has brought to Ukraine's agricultural sector and global food security, Ukraine remains committed to maintaining its key role as a guarantor of food security. Therefore, last summer, Ukraine launched the Black Sea Grain Initiative thanks to the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and the President of the Republic of Turkey. Russia uses the grain corridor as a political lever and has threatened to withdraw from the initiative several times. Therefore, Ukraine decided to take the next step to improve the food security situation in the world and launched the Grain from Ukraine programme, which provided grain to African countries with Ukrainian and donor funds. Food security is also one of the ten elements of the Ukrainian Formula for Peace presented by President Zelenskyy at the G20 summit this month. Russia's war has hit hard not only Ukraine but also countries in Europe, Africa, Asia and other regions. That is why the Grain from Ukraine programme is so important. It will help alleviate the acute problem of food shortages for millions of people around the world".
Before you join to ridicule your country in the name of being "woke" it's good you know these international developments.