The government proposed to make bananas in Russia a socially significant product

Gone are the days when Soviet people on New Year’s Eve (and not more often!) Could buy a bunch of bananas in the store. For us, it was pure exotic: from Brazil itself or Ecuador! Now bananas are like a carton of milk for us – in every village. And since they are so fond of the Russians, the government offers the Ministry of Economic Development to include them in the category of socially significant products. Just like bread or potatoes.

According to news agencies, the economic department was instructed to consider the issue of temporarily zeroing the customs duty rate on bananas. Today, there are 24 positions on the list of socially important products – from beef on the bone and bread to apples. Under certain conditions, if the prices of a certain product begin to grow strongly, the government has the right to introduce their direct regulation.

The Cabinet of Ministers, which monitors food prices through its structures, is concerned about the fact that the cost of bananas from Ecuador, our main importer, is gradually increasing. In April last year, they were sold at 115.2 rubles per kilogram, and in April of this year, they reached 130.

At the moment, the base rate of customs duty is 4%, but not less than 0.015 euros per kilogram. That is, 15 euros per ton, which the consumer ultimately pays. And the volume of banana supplies to Russia in recent years has stabilized at the level of 1.3-1.5 million tons per year.

The concern of the government is connected with the desire to reduce the prices of this product, since it has become, as it were, an integral part of our diet. “Like noodles “Doshirak” is a very healthy, satisfying and at the same time high-calorie product.”

Two years ago, there was a whole story with bananas in Russia. During a direct line with the president in June 2021, Vladimir Putin was asked: why are bananas from Ecuador, which are transported thousands of miles by sea, cheaper than carrots grown in a neighboring area? And they showed the price tag: indeed, bananas were then sold at 78 rubles per kilogram, and carrots from a neighboring village at 110 rubles.

The story didn’t end there. Already in August, domestic carrots unexpectedly fell in price to 55 rubles – although its mass harvesting did not begin. even in the southern regions of Russia, but even bananas dropped the price – to 53 rubles, they still turned out to be cheaper.

Today the situation raises no questions. Carrots cost 40 rubles per kilogram, and bananas from Ecuador, as we have already said, 100-130.

Here, so that they do not grow or slowly increase in price, the Cabinet of Ministers plans to cancel duties on them.

The consumption of bananas in Russia, of course, cannot be compared with potatoes, which we harvest on average about 20 million tons per year – from commercial and private production. We eat about 13 times more tubers than tropical fruits. However, cereals that are also popular among the people, which we stock up every time for a “rainy day” – rice and buckwheat – make up the same consumption volumes as a banana – 1 and 1.3 million tons, respectively.

Maybe it’s time to break stereotypes and bring variety to Russian cuisine?

Nutritionists talk about the incredible usefulness and uniqueness of a banana and that a person practically does not have an allergy to it.

“Some Russians have a biased attitude because of its high calorie content, it is twice as much as an apple,” Nuria Dianova, a well-known nutritionist and gastroenterologist, told us. – These fears are in vain. The banana contains fiber, it does not raise the level of glucose as much as, for example, a Snickers bar. Many generally arrange themselves unloading banana days. .

The specialist recommends eating “for a snack” one banana a day.

Igor Abakumov, Candidate of Economic Sciences, host of the Rural Hour program, shares the intention of the authorities.

“For the poor, this may be the only fruit available,” he says. – You need to see how grandmothers carefully choose a bunch or one or two fruits from the collapse. Those who can afford mango or kiwi will not get involved with such fruits. And for bankrupt Russians, bananas are the only thing that is affordable. Apples today are from 150 to 300 rubles, pears and other fruits are even more expensive …

With all due respect to this tropical fruit, questions remain. In particular, does it make sense to recognize as a socially significant product something that is not grown in Russia and, probably, even taking into account global warming, will not be grown?

By regulating consumer prices in the domestic market, the state, to the best of its ability and capabilities, through various mechanisms, also supports the Russian manufacturer – so that prices do not rush up especially zealously. And how to influence Ecuadorian farmers?

I share these doubts with the doctor of agricultural sciences from the Institute of Potato Production named after. Lorcha Evgeny Simakov.

“Socially significant products in our country should be those that are grown on the territory of Russia and are controlled by the authorities,” he believes. – For bananas, we have been and will be completely dependent on imports. But if there is no own production, how can one plan volumes? After all, our consumer basket, products of daily demand, is guaranteed by the state. For it, it can ask the manufacturer. Where is Ecuador and where are we?