Ukraine's government will create a food reserve big enough to feed the country's people and armed forces during the Russian invasion, prime minister Denys Shmygal said late on Wednesday, according to the government press service.
"The state will redeem grain and other stocks in the volumes of annual consumption by the whole country at the expense of the state budget," the press service quoted Shmygal as saying.
"This will provide the country with enough food," Shmygal said, without providing additional details.
Ukraine: A Major Global Food Producer
Ukraine is a major global food producer and exporter, but agriculture analysts have said the invasion by Russia - which calls its actions a 'special operation' - could sharply reduce the area sown for 2022's grain harvest, creating shortages for the rest of the world as well as Ukraine.
The country, which traditionally starts spring field planting preparations in late February or early March, has said farmers will start sowing in safe areas, but could face a shortage of fuel and seeds.
The European Food Banks Federation (FEBA) is ramping up its efforts to support those affected by the conflict in Ukraine, as part of its campaign #AllTogether4Ukraine. FEBA said that all its members are 'mobilised' amid what is a continuously developing situation both in Ukraine and neighbouring countries.
World food prices hit a record high in February, led by a surge in vegetable oils and dairy products, seeing a 20.7% increase year-on-year, the UN food agency has said.
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