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Maximo Torero warns of rising food inflation risk in India ahead of Kharif season
The US-Iran War has disrupted the fertilizer supply chain. Meanwhile, Maximo Torero, Chief Economist of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), has warned that the risk of fertilizer shortages and inflation is increasing in India ahead of the Kharif sowing season, which could severely impact crop production, food prices, and farmers' incomes.
Maximo Torero, the Chief Economist at the UN FAO, has warned India against rising food prices. The risk of food inflation will increase in India prior to the sowing season of Kharif because of the tensions between Iran and the United States that have led to shortages of fertilizers.
The Indian government has allocated a fertilizer subsidy worth $18.6 billion in 2026-27. However, there have been concerns over the availability of fertilizers due to tensions in international markets. For instance, 35 percent of fertilizers are sourced from the Gulf states through the Hormuz Strait, which is now blocked.
Speaking to ANI, Maximo Torero explained that if this crisis continues, India will have to pay more for imports. This will increase pressure on the prices of wheat, rice, and vegetables. India's domestic fertilizer factories are also unable to operate at full capacity. Due to gas shortages, these factories are operating at only 60 percent capacity. National Fertilizers Limited's plants in Punjab have restarted, but they face many challenges.
