Turkey to Mill Russian Grain for African Nations in Need

© RIA Novosti . Mikhail Mordasov / Go to the mediabankGrain conveyor
Grain conveyor - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 18.11.2023
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Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Russia's intention to send free grain to six African countries. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country supported the initiative. The first two wheat ships for Somalia and Burkina Faso have left Russia, Russian Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev said on Friday.
Turkey will process Russian grain into flour and send it to needy countries in Africa through various mechanisms, Turkish Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumaklı said.

"Earlier, 33 million tons of agricultural products were sent through this region [Turkey] to countries in need, which helped save the world from the food crisis. Our President [Erdogan] said that Russian grain in the form of flour will be sent to African countries. We will turn grain into flour, send it through various mechanisms," the minister noted.

During his visit to Germany on November 17, the Turkish leader announced his country's plans to process Russian grain into flour in the second stage of its deliveries to Africa. According to him, the Turkish side has carried out appropriate work on this issue with Russia and Qatar.
A view shows wheat ears to be harvested in the fields of Krasnodarskoe company in Krasnodar region, Russia. - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 17.11.2023
Sub-Saharan Africa
First Two Ships With Russian Wheat Head Towards Somalia, Burkina Faso, Minister Says
Russian Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev told reporters on the same day that the first batch of Russian wheat would arrive free of charge in Somalia and Burkina Faso in late November or early December this year. The first two bulk carriers, each carrying 25,000 tons of wheat, have already left Russian ports, he said.
The Russian agriculture minister also announced that the ships that will deliver wheat to the Central African Republic, Zimbabwe, Mali and Eritrea will be loaded in the near future and sent to these countries by the end of this year.
Rising food prices and disrupted supply chains are a major concern for developing countries, and the so-called Black Sea Grain Deal – the July 2022 agreement on a corridor for ships carrying Ukrainian grain to help address the global food crisis – has been suspended since July 18. Russia has notified Turkey, Ukraine and the United Nations of its objections to the extension of the deal.
Vladimir Putin previously noted that despite the efforts of the UN, its conditions regarding Russia were not fulfilled, as Western countries did not want to fulfill their promises. The Russian leader has repeatedly pointed out that the West exported most of Ukraine's grain to its states, while the main purpose of the agreement - to supply grain to countries in need, including African countries – was never realized.
After the grain deal was terminated, Putin announced at the second Russia-Africa summit in late July that Russia would send free grain to six African countries.
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