Kazakhstan bans vegetable oil, buckwheat exports until March 2011

Kazakhstan has banned the export of vegetable oil and buckwheat until March 2011, the country's trade ministry said on Wednesday.

The ban will come into force within 10 days.

The decision was taken because of this summer's heat wave and droughts that affected Kazakhstan's main exporters, including Russia, the ministry said.

Buckwheat is an extremely popular food in Russia and former Soviet republics.

RIA Novosti