Ukraine sends 1 million tons of agricultural products to African countries

During the two months of operation of the grain corridor, 6.2 million tons of agricultural products were already sent from Ukraine, which is 48% of total exports.

This was announced by First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and food of Ukraine Taras Vysotsky during a webinar.

"Before the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, 80-90% of all agricultural exports were carried out through seaports. Due to their blocking, we had to redistribute export flows to railways, cars, ferry and river ports. Today, thanks to the corridor, more than 270 ships with 6.2 million tons of cargo have already been able to leave Ukraine, which is 48% of the total export of agricultural products," Vysotsky said.

"Together with our EU partners, we managed to establish the smooth operation of the corridor, in particular, this made it possible to resume food supplies to African countries. In two months, we have already sent about 1 million tons of agricultural products there," he stressed.

Vysotsky noted that at the request of the Ukrainian government, the EU abolished quotas and duties on domestic products from June 4, 2022 to June 5, 2023.

"Together with the EU partner countries, we have developed a joint plan to improve food security around the world. And we are grateful to them for their initiatives. Ukraine, in turn, has adopted the necessary legislation to implement this plan. For example, in terms of cargo fumigation. The government has already adopted a corresponding resolution and necessary changes to it," Vysotsky said.

-cancellation of verification of feed of plant origin and grain, if they cross the territory of the EU in transit mode, -cancellation of inspection of livestock products exported in transit -establishment of a special border and Customs Control Regime.

China and Russia have spent decades trying to increase their influence in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. In the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, the CCP has used low cost loans and grants to gain influence. Russian military help has been used in the Central African Republic to suppress anti government rebels. Pro-Communist regimes, particularly in Latin America, are client states of Russia and China. As a result, the Third World has not offered much support to Ukraine. In an August vote at the U.N. General Assembly, a second vote to condemn Russia only received support from European, East Asian, and Anglosphere nations.

While this grain shipment is a drop in the bucket, it is an attempt to gain support in Third World nations dependent on grain imports.

According to Michael Dunford, Regional Director for the World Food Programme, Drought and regional conflict has made millions of East Africans food supply insecure. He said there are conflicts in the region of northern Ethiopia and South Sudan and Somalia as well as Ukraine. Also, currently there is a worst drought in 40 years with four failed rainy seasons which severely impacts Somalia, northern Kenya, southern Ethiopia, also now stretching to Djibouti and eastern Uganda. Add that to the impact of COVID is a perfect recipe for hunger.

At any single time, Michael Dunford said there are either 20 or 30 ships on the seas. And so we are getting used to dealing in difficult circumstances. We were able to secure a vessel, loaded in Ukraine and then sailed after going through the various verifications and checks that are defined by the Black Sea Initiative.

The ship arrived in Djibouti port unloading 23,000 metric tons. This is enough food for 1.53 million people. One-and-a-half million people will have meals on their table”

Russia has always tried to compete with Ukraine agriculturally.

German Agriculture Minister Cem Oezdemir reported Russian attacks on Ukraine’s grain infrastructure look like attempts to reduce the competition in Russia’s export markets.

Ukraine could lose tens of millions of tonnes of grain due to Russia’s blockade of Black Sea ports, triggering a food crisis that will hit Europe, Asia and Africa.

“We are repeatedly receiving reports about targeted Russian attacks on grain silos, fertilizer stores, farming areas and infrastructure,” Oezdemir told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland. The suspicion is growing that Russian President Vladimir Putin is seeking “in the long term to remove Ukraine as a competitor.”

Russia denies targeting civilian areas.

Russia and Ukraine are traditionally major competitors in global grains markets. Global wheat prices have risen about 40% since Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine cut supplies available on world markets from the Black Sea.

According to International Grains Council data, Ukraine was the world’s fourth-largest grain exporter in the 2020/21 season, selling 44.7 million tonnes abroad. The volume of exports has fallen sharply since the Russian invasion.

“With the increasing hunger in the world, Russia is seeking to build up pressure. At the same time, the massive increase in market prices is coming in handy for Russia because this brings new money into the country.”

“Ukraine must seek alternative transport methods. “Railway transport could be a method of exporting more grain, although with much effort and with limited capacity.”

Germany would seek to give assistance, he added.

Ukraine has been gradually expanding grain exports using land transport to the European Union. But the different rail track widths in Ukraine and the EU mean Ukrainian trains cannot automatically operate on the European rail network.

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