Russia has started a banana war: they now hope to grow them in Krasnodar

It all started when the Ecuadorian government decided in January to transfer its old Soviet equipment to the United States and Ukraine in exchange for new American equipment. Russia’s reaction did not have to wait long: at the beginning of February, “Rosselkhoznadzor” found flies in Ecuadorian bananas and from February 5. has stopped their import, reports the independent portal “Agenstvo”.

Moscow has repeatedly treated various products from various countries with which it has strained relations. The point is that Russia’s adversary would financially feel the extent of the Kremlin’s outrage. It probably should have worked this time too. Ecuador might lose up to 754 million per year. US dollars, as the restrictions will affect more than 30 percent. of this country’s supplies to Russia, RIA Novosti reported.

For regarding a week, Russian propaganda said that replacing bananas from Ecuador would not be a big problem. February 6 agency TASS wrote that no difficulties should be expected regarding the supply of bananas to Russia. Igor Karavayev, chairman of ACORT’s presidium, explained to the state agency that the ban only applies to a few exporters from Ecuador, and Russian companies can effectively reorganize logistics. In addition, Ecuador is not the only banana grower in the world: other market leaders are India and China, the expert said. Almost immediately, the first batch of bananas to replace Ecuador’s bananas was delivered from India, Channel One reported.

However, despite all the propaganda assurances, bananas almost immediately disappeared from the shelves of Chelyabinsk stores.

Rosselchozbank now says that in a month the banana shortage will cover the whole country. Oleg Kniazkov, head of the Industrial Expertise Center of the state-owned Rosselchozbank, told Gazeta.ru that a tangible shortage of bananas will begin in regarding a month. The expert explained this by the fact that previously sent batches will still have time to reach Russian stores.

Bananas from India should reach Russia later, but for now their delivery is delayed due to logistical difficulties, the expert said. He also said negotiations are underway with Ecuador to resume supplies.

Until then, according to O. Kniazkov, the temporary shortage can supposedly be compensated by growing bananas in Russia. “Successful experiments on the acclimatization of tropical plants have already been carried out in the Krasnodar Territory,” Gazeta.ru clarified.