Bananas, a fruit grown in Hoa Binh for Tet, have doubled in price. Whoever cuts a lot will win big.

In the days leading up to Lunar New Year, the price of red bananas - a fruit used for Tet - has increased sharply. Many banana growers in Cao Phong district, Hoa Binh province have earned hundreds of millions thanks to converting old orange acreage to banana plantations.

Cao Phong district is known as the orange growing area of ​​Hoa Binh province. However, after many years of cultivation, many orange growing areas have become old and cannot be replanted immediately, many households have boldly brought in the pink pepper variety to plant. Banana trees are not picky about soil, grow well, give high yield, and have delicious quality.

From a few initial growers, up to now, the entire Cao Phong district has grown 120 hectares of pink bananas. This year, because banana growing provinces in the lowlands were heavily affected by typhoon Yagi , the price of pink bananas in Cao Phong district has increased dramatically. Banana growers are excited to welcome a warm and prosperous Tet.

After many years of cultivating orange trees, many families in Cao Phong district (Hoa Binh province) have introduced short-term crops to improve the soil, including the pink banana variety. Photo: Pham Hoai.

Ms. Dao Thi Lien's family in Cao Phong town, Cao Phong district used to grow oranges for many years. Orange trees have brought a prosperous life to her family. In addition to growing oranges, Ms. Lien also converted 1 hectare to grow pink bananas. Her banana garden is growing well. Every year it gives a steady harvest.

Ms. Lien shared: "Last year, banana prices were low, my family did not earn much. This year, banana prices increased from 6,000 VND/kg to 12,000 VND/kg, which surprised my family. Even happier is that the entire banana garden has been ordered by traders to sell during the Lunar New Year."

Sharing the same joy with Ms. Lien, hundreds of banana growers in Cao Phong town, Bac Phong commune and Tay Phong commune are excited because they will have a warm and prosperous Tet thanks to banana growing. Banana gardens that are well cared for and have beautiful fruit have all been ordered by traders.

Meeting Mr. Nguyen Van Phuc in Tay Phong hamlet, Tay Phong commune, we can feel the joy that farmers here are reaping the sweet fruits. Mr. Phuc grows 3 hectares of bananas. 2 months ago, he harvested half of the garden with a selling price of 8,000 VND/kg. Currently, Mr. Phuc's family still has 3,000 bunches of bananas to sell for Tet.

"The price is increasing day by day, I have not yet decided to sell. I still hope the price will increase. Many traders have come to buy the whole garden at 12,000 VND/kg, but I have not agreed yet," Mr. Phuc said excitedly.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Phuc in Tay Phong hamlet, Tay Phong commune, Cao Phong district, with the current high selling price, 1 hectare of bananas can yield about 600 million VND. Photo: Pham Hoai.

According to Mr. Phuc, planting pink bananas at one time can yield 3 crops. Each hectare can grow 2,500 - 3,000 trees. The yield ranges from 40 - 60 tons.

Growing bananas requires regular pruning and fertilization. Watering is required every five days. When the bananas are in the bunch, they must be regularly treated for fungal diseases and covered with nylon bags to prevent insects from biting and to maintain their beautiful appearance. With the current high selling price, 1 hectare of bananas can bring in about 600 million VND.

Explaining the sudden increase in banana prices this year, Mr. Vu Xuan Khoa, Head of Tay Phong hamlet, Tay Phong commune, Cao Phong district said: "Because banana growing provinces in the Red River Delta had a bad harvest, the supply of Tet bananas was seriously lacking, so banana growers here had a bumper crop."

Banana gardens that are well cared for and have beautiful fruit have been ordered by traders to serve the Tet holiday. Photo: Pham Hoai.

Not as lucky as Mr. Phuc and Ms. Lien's family, Mr. Le Hai Binh's family in Cao Phong town, Cao Phong district has a banana garden of more than 5,000 square meters but by Tet there were no fruits to sell.

Mr. Binh said: 2 years ago, banana prices were cheap, only 2,000 VND/kg - 2,500 VND/kg. At such prices, banana growers would lose money, so this year I did not "hold back" to grow bananas for Tet.

Through scattered sales throughout the year, the fruit is sold as soon as it comes into fruit trees. My garden sold out 4-5 months ago, the price at that time was only about 5,000 VND/kg. Now the price is over 12,000 VND/kg, traders keep asking. There are bunches they ordered for 600,000 VND but still no bananas to sell. From now until Tet, the price will be even higher.

Mr. Bui Van Dan, Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Cao Phong district (Hoa Binh province) said: Currently, the district is focusing on implementing the orange tree replanting project, so the areas that have been growing oranges for many years must have the soil improved.

In recent years, people have chosen banana trees to improve the soil on the orange acreage that has finished its cycle. Mainly the acreage of Cao Phong Hoa Binh Company Limited.

The district does not plan to grow bananas long-term. This year, the price has increased dramatically because banana growing provinces in the lowlands were severely affected by Typhoon Yagi, so the price of bananas has increased. The selling price of red bananas is often unstable, depending on objective conditions and is not sustainable.

Source: https://danviet.vn/gan-tet-nguoi-trong-chuoi-tieu-hong-o-hoa-binh-phan-khoi-vi-gia-tang-gap-doi-20250118210709274.htm