The global food price index issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) fell for the eleventh consecutive month in February, down 19% from the record level reached last March in the aftermath of the Russian-Ukrainian war, which completed its first year on February 24 and is still ongoing. ongoing.
The organization said today, Friday, according to Reuters, that its index, which monitors the prices of the most traded primary food commodities in the world, reached an average of 129.8 points last month, down from 130.6 points in January. This is the lowest reading of the index since September 2021.
The current phase of the Black Sea Grains Initiative agreement facilitating the export of Ukrainian agricultural products from its southern ports, brokered by Turkey and the United Nations, ends on March 18. It will be extended if neither party raises a formal objection.
And Reuters adds: Before the previous extension of the agreement in November, Russia also escalated its criticism of it in an attempt to obtain more concessions from the West, but in the end it allowed its extension for a period of 120 days.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that it would only agree to a second extension of the deal if the interests of Russian agricultural producers were taken into account.
Western sanctions did not directly target the Russian agricultural sector, but Moscow says that the sanctions affect payments, shipping and insurance and thus constitute "a hindrance" In front of its exports of grain and fertilizers.
On the first of this March, a Ukrainian official announced, according to the Qatar News Agency "Qena" Her country has exported more than 22 million tons of agricultural products since the start of the agreement "grain aisle" On August 1, 2022, including more than 18 million tons of grains and oils.
