01 June 2022, New Delhi: Turkish authorities have rejected a consignment of exported wheat, citing phytosanitary concerns. The ship ‘MV Ins Akdeniz’ loaded with 56,877 tonnes of durum wheat is now returning from Turkey to Kandla port in Gujarat.
Export of wheat to Turkey was initiated after a team of experts from Turkey visited India for the first time in April to source wheat from Madhya Pradesh and Punjab. The team met the local government body, traders and also visited storage facilities to check the quality of produce.
According to industry sources, the wheat consignment was found to be affected by the Indian Rubella disease and has been rejected by the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The rejected consignment will reach India by mid-June, said a trader aware of the situation.
On 13 May, the Indian government announced a ban on the export of wheat, citing food security concerns. The traders involved in the export of wheat have suffered huge losses. About 18 lakh tonnes of food grains are lying at the ports for purpose of export.
Wheat prices across the world are at a record highs due to Ukraine-Russia war. Ukraine was the world’s largest supplier of wheat and produced a third of the global production. However, this year with the onset of war, the Ukraine farmers have been unable to engage in agricultural activities due to unavailability of essential agri inputs like seeds and fertilisers. The scenario may remain the same until 2023.
