According to the United Nation data, it indicates that 65 percent of the grains from the Black Sea Grain Initiative have gone to developing countries and 20 percent have gone directly to the least developed countries.
After the Ukraine-Russia war, there has been a decline in grain supply across the globe, especially in the continent of Africa.
Reacting to this development, the US department of state its Africa Regional media hub organised a press briefing on the Black Sea Grain Initiative, the impact its collapse has had on Africa, and the United States’ effort to strengthen food systems on the continent.
It features the representative of the USAID, Isobel Coleman, USAID Deputy Administrator for Policy and Programming And Erin Elizabeth McKee USAID Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Europe and Eurasia.
Adding that the Kremlin’s false narratives about the Black Sea Grain Initiative and its military aggression have triggered sanctions explaining that Putin’s refusal to continue the grain deal is harming the world, which relies on Ukrainian grain.
“Russia’s purposeful destruction of Ukraine’s breadbasket is impacting not only Ukrainian farmers but also those around the world who rely on Ukraine’s exports.
“Putin has claimed that Ukrainian exports from the Black Sea benefit the richest countries and not the poorest.”
“This is simply a lie. In fact, nearly two-thirds of Ukraine’s wheat exports through the Black Sea Grain Initiative have gone to developing countries, and almost 20 percent have gone to the very least developed countries.”
“Just in the last few weeks since pulling out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, the Government of Ukraine estimates that Putin’s missiles and drone attacks have destroyed 180,000 metric tons of Ukrainian grains sitting in storage.”
“From August of ’22, when the first ship departed under the Black Sea Grain Initiative, through its termination last month on July 17th, Ukraine shipped nearly 33 million metric tons of desperately needed grain and oil seeds to global markets through the Black Sea Grain Initiative, and Putin’s refusal to continue this lifesaving deal is hurting the world, which depends on Ukrainian”
Coleman said that USAID is providing humanitarian assistance to address the food security crisis. The United States wants more food on the global market at affordable prices, and Russia’s illegal war on Ukraine is exacerbating the situation. The focus is on ending the conflict and investing in resilient food systems to address food insecurity. She added.
Stressing the effects on the Russia-Ukraine war, Erin Mckee, USAID Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Europe and Eurasia explained that the Black Sea Grain Initiative allowed Ukraine to export nearly 33 million metric tons of grain and oil seeds, benefiting countries facing food insecurity. However, Russia’s aggression led to the termination of their participation in the initiative, cutting off vital food supplies.
Earlier, USAID has announced additional funding for the Agricultural Resilience Initiative in Ukraine, aiming to upgrade critical infrastructure and support farmers amid the challenges posed by Russia’s aggression. The investment is vital for Ukraine’s long-term future in providing food security to communities worldwide, including those in Africa.
Recent findings show that in tackling food insecurity, and to ensure the nutritional needs of Africa’s 1 billion people are met & to foster their overall human development measures must be taken to mitigate the impact of the current crisis on the most vulnerable households and to build stronger and more sustainable African food systems for the future, the USAID representative, Erin Mckee explained that USAID hasn’t shifted from the commitment.
One of their Initiative Feed the Future, a comprehensive U.S. Government initiative was launched after the global food crisis of 2008-2010 to address food security and build resilience in countries.
“The U.S. Government launched Feed the Future, which is a whole-of-U.S.-Government approach to invest in food security and making countries more resilient to food crises.”
“And today we invest in more than 40 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, really around the world, and we have target countries that have very high levels of poverty and hunger, and also a strong potential for agriculture to drive economic growth and to transform food systems.”
The program invests in over 40 countries worldwide, with a focus on 20 target countries with high poverty and hunger levels and agricultural potential for economic growth. Describing the investments to include improving soil health, seed quality, and providing training and technology to farmers, especially women farmers.
Coleman said these efforts have led to increased productivity, poverty reduction, and improved agricultural production, benefiting over 30 million people.
The initiative has played a significant role in mitigating the impacts of food crises and building long-term food security, complemented by humanitarian responses to address immediate nutritional needs.
“We’ve significantly increased our investment in ready-to-use therapeutic food and announced a big commitment at UNGA last year to increase access to ready-to-use therapeutic food, RUTF, to treat many, many more people who are facing nutritional crises. But that’s a short-term response, but the long-term response has really been investing in that long-term agricultural capability of farmers around the world and specifically in Africa”
One of the key successes has been the investment in agricultural capabilities, particularly in Africa.
