Turkey is set to start growing wheat in Venezuela, Turkish Agriculture and Forestry Minister Vahit Kirishci said on Saturday, amid fears of a global grain shortage caused by the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Ahval reported.

The initiative comes at the invitation of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, according to the T24 news site, citing Kirisci, who made the announcement at an agricultural event in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır.

Produce 100 kilos of wheat, take 70 of them for your purposes and keep 30 for us, he quoted Maduro's proposal.

Earlier this week, Maduro paid an official visit to Turkey. It is noted that the President of Venezuela is seeking to attract Turkish investment in trade, energy, mining, contracting, healthcare, agriculture and tourism to his oil-rich country.

Trade between Turkey and Venezuela rose from $150 billion in 2019 to more than $850 million in 2021, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during a visit, predicting a further increase to $1 billion this year.