Ukraine crisis: Govt looking to tap diplomatic missions to export wheat

Russia is the world's top wheat exporter and largest producer after China and India while Ukraine is among the top five wheat exporters worldwide.

India is looking to tap its diplomatic missions abroad to enable grain exporters in the country to ship out wheat and corn as supplies from Russia and Ukraine are expected to remain disrupted for some time to come.

Between the two items, pushing for wheat is easier because of a huge domestic surplus.

“We are hand holding our exporters and support from various Indian missions abroad is also being channelised accordingly,” a senior government official said.

Global wheat prices have jumped since the Ukraine crisis started, with wheat futures in the US reaching their highest levels since 2008. Indian wheat