India has begun supplying bananas to Russia, and the first shipment was sent in January this year.
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India has begun supplying bananas to Russia, and the first shipment was sent in January this year, Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) said following negotiations with representatives of the plant protection, quarantine and storage department of the Agriculture Ministry and Farmers Welfare of India, during which they discussed issues related to the supply of fruit from India to Russia.
"The matter of access to Indian fruit, in particular bananas, has been discussed by the parties for several years.
The Indian colleagues have noted that the result of joint work was the shipment of the first consignment of bananas from India to Russia in January 2024, and the next delivery is planned by the end of February.
Further volumes of Indian exports bananas to the Russian market will increase", according to the statement.
Rosselkhoznadzor confirmed that there are currently no restrictions on imports of fruit and vegetables from India to Russia; Indian fruit can be freely supplied to the Russian territory, accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate confirming the absence of quarantine organisms in goods in accordance with the legislation of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
The Indian side during the negotiations expressed interest in expanding the range of fruit supplies, according to the report.
In addition to bananas, this also involves mangoes, pineapples, papaya, and guava. In the near future, the country will send to Rosselkhoznadzor a list of fruit planned for export to Russia. In turn, Rosselkhoznadzor will transfer phytosanitary requirements for the products to the Indian side.
According to FAO data cited by Rosselkhoznadzor, India is the largest banana producer in the world, with the country growing 33 million tonnes in 2023. China is in second place at 12 million tonnes, Indonesia is in third place at 8.7 million tonnes. ■