Russia buys bananas from India after conflict over military equipment with Ecuador

Feb 6 (Reuters) - Russia has started buying bananas from India and will increase its imports from there, its food safety watchdog announced on Tuesday, following a clash with its largest supplier, Ecuador, over a decision to deliver military material. Russian-made to the United States. The first batch of Indian bananas was shipped to Russia in January and the next batch is scheduled to arrive at the end of February, Russian watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor said, adding that "the volume of exports of Indian bananas to the Russian market will increase ". Rosselkhoznadzor last week suspended imports of bananas from five Ecuadorian companies, claiming that it had detected pests in their products. Ecuador's food safety agency said Tuesday that only 0.3% of banana shipments to Russia contained insects and did not pose a risk, according to local press. The suspensions came after Moscow condemned a pact under which Ecuador will deliver Russian-made military material, described by Ecuador as ...