El Nino-Fueled Food Crisis Looms, Warns India's Jaishankar

India's foreign minister S Jaishankar has warned of a major food crisis in the coming months due to various global factors. Speaking at an event organized by the Asia Society in New York, Mr. Jaishankar pointed out that wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are exacerbating the effects of a super El Nino. The conflicts have had a devastating impact on the economies of the Global South.

The minister stated that energy, food, fertilizers, and finance are all under strain at once. He noted that tight global energy markets are being worsened by countries 'playing politics' with oil supplies, driving up prices when they should be stabilizing.

Mr. Jaishankar also highlighted the issue of food shortages, saying that some of the world's major grain exporters will be unable to send out shipments due to disruptions caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He added that fertiliser shortages are mounting because key producers are based in the Middle East and Russia.

The minister warned that on top of a super El Nino, there is going to be a 'major food crisis probably in the coming months.' This year's El Nino, which comes on top of human-caused global warming, is expected to be stronger than others and has already broken records.