India send foodgrains as humanitarian aid to Malawi, Zambia & Zimbabwe

The government of India, in the spirit of South-South cooperation and the Indian philosophy of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', has decided to extend humanitarian assistance to the African countries of Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 

India has agreed to send food grains to these countries suffering from a food deficit due to the severe drought caused by adverse weather conditions caused by the El Nino phenomenon.

El Nino refers to the unusual warming of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean along the coast of Peru. 

This irregular phenomenon causes drought in India and certain parts of Africa and heavy rains and flooding in certain countries like Kenya.

Food Assistance to Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe

India will provide 1000 metric tonnes(MT) of rice to Malawi and Zimbabwe each. 

India will also provide 2500 MT of maize to Zambia, and the first consignment, 1300 MT, has been dispatched.

All the consignments to these African countries have been sent from the JNPT Nhava Sheva port, Mumbai.

Malawi is a major supplier of Tur (Arhar) pulses to India. India has contracted to buy 50,000 tonnes of tur pulses per year from Malawi till 2025.

India’s Position in Rice and Maize

India is the second largest producer of rice after China and the world’s largest rice exporter.

Last year, the Indian government restricted the export of broken rice and white rice to control the prices in the domestic market.

These rice can be exported from India with special permission from the Indian government.

Recently, India agreed to export 2 lakh metric tonnes of white rice to Malaysia at the request of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who visited India from 19-21 August 2024.

India is the fourth largest producer of maize/corn in the world after the United States, China, and Brazil. However, India is not a major exporter of maize.

World’s Newest Currency ZIG Introduced by Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe introduced the world’s newest currency, ZIG, short for Zimbabwe Gold, in May 2024. The country’s gold reserves will support the new currency.

Due to hyperinflation and the collapse of the Zimbabwean economy, the government suspended the Zimbabwean Dollar in 2009. 

The Zimbabwean government made currencies like the US dollar, South African Rand, and Indian rupee legal tender, allowing them to be used within the country.

ZIG is the sixth currency to be introduced by the Zimbabwe government since the collapse of the Zimbabwean dollar in 2009.