Archive · 2 Oct 2026
Wars, El Niño Raise Fears of Major Global Food Crisis
Wars can make it harder for countries to move food and fertilisers.
Russia and Ukraine are major suppliers of wheat and other farm products.
Their ports and ships have reportedly been attacked, reducing exports.
This can make food more expensive, especially in countries that buy much of their food from abroad.
The article also says the Strait of Hormuz is disrupting fertiliser shipments.
Farmers need fertilisers to grow larger harvests.
A strong El Niño has also brought difficult weather conditions.
India received much less monsoon rain than usual and declared droughts in five states.
Indian officials say they are preparing by helping farmers choose crops that need less water.
External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar warned that wars and a super El Niño could worsen a global food crisis in coming months.
Russia and Ukraine together account for about one-third of global wheat trade and export wheat, corn, sunflower oil and fertilisers.
The report says attacks have shut down nearly 97% of Russia and Ukraine’s grain-export capacity and disrupted about 17% of global grain exports.
The Strait of Hormuz is described as virtually closed, threatening roughly one-third of global fertiliser trade and raising supply concerns.
India recorded a 13% monsoon rainfall deficit, while five states were declared drought-affected and preparations began for water-efficient rabi crops.
- Who
- External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Indian Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and governments affected by the wars and supply disruptions.
- What
- Officials warned that wars, damaged shipping routes, fertiliser shortages and a strong El Niño could contribute to a major food crisis.
- When
- The warning concerns the coming months; India’s reported monsoon deficit occurred during the June–September season.
- Where
- The risks involve global food markets, the Black Sea, the Strait of Hormuz and drought-affected Indian states.
- Why
- The article attributes the risk to disrupted grain and fertiliser exports, higher natural-gas and food prices, and weather-related agricultural damage.
- Global wheat trade
- Russia and Ukraine account for around one-third of the global wheat trade, according to the report.
- Grain-export capacity
- The report says attacks have shut down nearly 97% of Russia and Ukraine’s grain-export capacity.
- Global grain disruption
- The conflict has disrupted close to 17% of the world’s grain exports, according to the report.
- Fertiliser trade
- The Strait of Hormuz is described as carrying almost one-third of global fertiliser trade.
- India’s rainfall deficit
- India recorded a 13% deficit during the June–September monsoon season.
- Drought declarations
- India declared droughts in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
- Crop preparations
- The government said it would help states identify water-efficient, short-duration crop varieties for the rabi season.