Can Tho Farm Production, Trade and Service Cooperative is developing a facility for producing silk from pineapple leaves.
There is an additional source of income from pineapple leaves.
For a long time, in many pineapple-growing areas of Can Tho City in general and Hoa Luu commune in particular, pineapple leaves have been a major concern for farmers whenever it's time to harvest. Cutting them down is labor-intensive, throwing them into ditches causes environmental pollution, and spraying them with chemicals affects the soil and health. However, this worry has now been alleviated thanks to Mr. Pham Van Nuong, of the Can Tho Farm Production, Trade, and Service Cooperative, who has developed a facility to produce silk from pineapple leaves.
Mr. Pham Van Nuong shared: “To produce high-quality pineapple fiber, we must select mature pineapple leaves of sufficient length according to technical requirements, usually about 40 to 50 cm or more. Cau Duc pineapples have leaves of higher quality compared to some other pineapple varieties. After harvesting, the pineapple leaves must go through many processing stages such as pressing, spinning, and trimming to remove any parts still clinging to the fiber. The pineapple fiber is then washed thoroughly with water, then put into a centrifuge to dry, and then sun-dried. When the pineapple fiber is dry enough, it is packaged and sold to companies to produce yarn for the textile industry.”
With this method, 60kg of fresh pineapple leaves yield approximately 1kg of dried pineapple fiber. Currently, the cooperative sells dried pineapple fiber to partners at a price of 160,000-170,000 VND/kg. According to Mr. Nuong, an average of 1,000m² of pineapple cultivation yields about 1.5-2 tons of leaves. When pineapple leaves are collected and sold to the cooperative at 1,000 VND/kg, farmers not only earn extra income but also save 800,000 to 1 million VND/1,000m² in labor costs for cleanup, while minimizing environmental impact. Furthermore, pineapple leaf fiber production creates jobs for local workers. Simultaneously, the amount of pineapple leaves discarded into the water is significantly reduced, contributing to environmental protection.
Currently, the Can Tho Farm Production, Trade, and Service Cooperative provides regular employment for about 10 workers, with the rest being seasonal workers. Ms. Huynh Thi Bich Ly, who works at the cooperative, said that the income from processing pineapple fibers is very stable for her and the other workers. They work 8 hours a day. The women workers earn about 8 million VND/month, while the men earn about 9 million VND/month.
Leading us on a tour of the production process, Mr. Pham Van Nuong shared that although the model was only implemented a few months ago, it has yielded positive results, especially in reducing the amount of pineapple leaves discarded in the fields. Looking ahead, Mr. Nuong plans to utilize the residue from the pineapple fiber production process to make bio-fertilizer, raise earthworms as feed for eels or fish. In addition, the earthworm castings will also be used to fertilize crops.
Mr. Pham Van Nuong said that the Cau Duc pineapples, with their long leaves and dried pineapple fibers meeting quality standards, will be sold to the company for the production of yarn for the textile industry.
Long-term direction for raw material areas.
Mr. Vo Tu Phuong, Standing Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hoa Luu Commune, Can Tho City, said: "Currently, the commune has more than 2,000 hectares of pineapple plantations. However, during cultivation, farmers often discard by-products, especially pineapple leaves, incurring costs for clearing the fields. This situation greatly affects the environment as well as the production costs of farmers. In recent times, the locality has collaborated with various units to research and find solutions for processing pineapple by-products. Based on that, the commune has successfully recruited a unit to process pineapple leaves into fibers for the textile industry. Currently, this cooperative is operating very effectively."
According to Mr. Vo Tu Phuong, the Can Tho Farm Production, Trade, and Service Cooperative initially went directly to the farms to purchase pineapple leaves to create a habit among the people. Pineapple leaves are purchased at a stable price of 1,000 VND/kg. With a consumption capacity of about 2.2-2.5 tons of pineapple leaves per day, this helps to solve the problem of a large amount of by-products from pineapples in the locality.
“The model of producing silk from pineapple leaves has brought very positive results for the locality. Firstly, it helps minimize the environmental impact of rural areas. Secondly, it reduces production costs and increases income for people. Thirdly, it contributes to building a green, sustainable production system that adapts to climate change. Utilizing by-products in agricultural production also contributes to improving the lives and incomes of people in pineapple-growing areas,” Mr. Vo Tu Phuong emphasized.
Text and photos: MONG TOAN
Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/bien-phe-pham-thanh-nguon-thu-cho-nong-dan-vung-khom-a196591.html
Comment (0)