Food security diplomacy: India agri experts cite West Asia crisis supply chain risks

Agri industry experts urged the government to keep food security central in diplomatic talks. The call came as the West Asia crisis disrupted trade and raised costs. Speakers said supply chains faced higher freight bills, pricier inputs, and delays. They warned these pressures could affect prices and availability of key food items in India.

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The concerns were raised at a roundtable organised by the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry BCC&I. Participants said geopolitical tensions were increasingly shaping India’s food system. They described risks from port delays, costlier energy, and rising fertiliser prices. Businesses also faced tighter cash flows as shipments took longer to arrive.

West Asia crisis and food security risks for India

Former Union Agriculture Secretary Siraj Hussain said a longer conflict could hurt rabi crop production. Siraj Hussain also warned food inflation could rise. The risk was higher if fuel prices climbed after elections in some states. Higher diesel and petrol prices could raise transport costs across the farm supply chain.

Prof Ajitava Ray Chaudhuri said inflation pressures could stay elevated. Prof Ajitava Ray Chaudhuri linked this to higher input prices and transport costs. Suresh Motwani of Solidaridad listed weak points across the chain. These included fertiliser dependency, logistics bottlenecks, and higher packaging costs for farm goods.

Logistics disruption and food security concerns in India

Suraj Agarwal, Chief Executive of Rice Villa, said shipping delays were growing. Suraj Agarwal pointed to disruptions in major maritime routes, including the Red Sea corridor. Suraj Agarwal said freight rates had surged and timelines had stretched. Suraj Agarwal added that these changes affected imports of essentials and exports like rice and processed food.

Suraj Agarwal said businesses faced working capital stress as costs rose. Suraj Agarwal said the bigger worry was uncertainty across the value chain. Suraj Agarwal cited procurement and distribution risks under volatile freight rates. Suraj Agarwal also referred to policy uncertainty that made planning harder for traders and processors.

Policy support for food security amid global disruption

Industry representatives suggested a five-point action plan for the government. The steps included stronger logistics resilience and higher domestic production. They also sought stable policies and better working capital support for agri firms. Another proposal was real-time monitoring systems to track global supply disruptions and respond faster.

Suraj Agarwal asked for policy support through freight stabilisation measures. Suraj Agarwal also proposed alternative trade routes and wider sourcing options. Suraj Agarwal said key inputs, including fertilisers, needed diversified supply. Suraj Agarwal also urged stable export policies to reduce risk for exporters and farmers.

Suraj Agarwal said, "Indias food security today is not only about monsoon, but also about maritime routes and geopolitics,\" he stated. The experts said India still had strong agricultural fundamentals. They added that food security during global shocks needed quicker policy moves. They also stressed tougher and more flexible supply chains.

With inputs from PTI