Green on rocky land

Traditional bananas are grown by farmers in Bau Ham commune, Dong Nai province, on rocky land in small plots.

As a short-term crop with shallow roots and high moisture requirements, banana farmers only need to dig holes in the ground, add a little topsoil, and the banana plants will thrive and yield high productivity.

The vitality of bananas

Along the Cay Gao - Bau Ham road (Bau Ham commune, Dong Nai province), banana trees spread their lush green leaves, covering the rocky ground beneath their roots. Farmer Phung Van Giau (Tan Lap 1 hamlet, Bau Ham commune) shared: Before switching to growing tissue-cultured bananas for export, his 2 hectares of rocky land were used to grow pepper and coffee. Since 2019, when the pepper crop was affected by disease and the coffee plants were aging, he switched to growing tissue-cultured bananas for export so that the income from his family's farm would not be affected.

According to Mr. Giau, the profit from growing tissue-cultured bananas for export depends heavily on the market demand at any given time. However, his 2 hectares of tissue-cultured bananas for export are expected to yield over 100 tons this season. With current market prices ranging from 9,000 to 10,000 VND/kg, he estimates an income of 150-200 million VND/ha/year after deducting investment and maintenance costs.

Export-quality tissue-cultured bananas are attracting farmers in many rocky areas of Phu Lam commune, Dong Nai province, despite price fluctuations. Farmer Vong A Bau (Phuong Lam hamlet, Phu Lam commune) said: In 3 years of growing 1 hectare of export-quality tissue-cultured bananas, he has earned between 250-300 million VND per year.

To reclaim 2.5 hectares of rocky land for planting tissue-cultured bananas for export, Mr. Le Hong Son (Hamlet 6, Phu Vinh Commune) used an excavator to remove rocks and set them aside in neat rows before planting. He used the excess loam soil from the trenching process to fill the banana plants around the base. This way, the plants receive additional loam soil for growth, and the land level remains consistent (not varying in height compared to the previous terrain). Thanks to this method, his tissue-cultured banana plantation achieves a yield of 60 tons/hectare/year or more, with uniform bunches and over 90% of the bananas being grade 1.

Bananas for export are currently a lifeline for sugarcane and dragon fruit. Therefore, the movement to grow bananas for export in Xuan Bac commune has developed quite strongly in the last four years.
Farmer LE VAN MANH, Suoi Nho 6 hamlet, Xuan Bac commune, Dong Nai province

Many promising prospects from banana cultivation.

The areas of Gia Kiem, Bau Ham, Trang Bom, and Dau Giay communes (Dong Nai province)... traditionally cultivate various types of bananas, including Cavendish, Gros Michel, and other varieties, for processing into cakes and candies and transporting them to Central and Northern Vietnam for sale. However, because these traditional banana varieties are primarily for domestic consumption, the attractiveness of tissue-cultured bananas for export has led farmers to significantly reduce the area dedicated to growing these traditional varieties, shifting instead to bananas grown for export.

Farmer Chen A Phuc (Cay Dieu hamlet, Bau Ham commune) shared: Traditional banana cultivation requires simple techniques, low investment, and yields and income comparable to export-quality tissue-cultured bananas. However, traditional bananas are harvested throughout the year, mainly grown on high hills lacking irrigation, rocky fields, and currently occupy a smaller area compared to export-quality tissue-cultured bananas.

Tissue-cultured banana trees for export are now chosen by many farmers in Xuan Lap ward, Dong Nai province, as their main crop alongside other crops such as durian, jackfruit, and rambutan. Ms. Tran Thi Hien, Chairwoman of the Farmers' Association of Xuan Lap ward, shared: "Tissue-cultured banana trees for export in the area generate an income of 250-300 million VND/hectare/year, not only helping farmers diversify crops in their orchards but also contributing to building a sustainable household economy ."

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the area planted with tissue-cultured bananas for export in the province is currently about 16,700 hectares, with an estimated production of nearly 200,000 tons per year. Tissue-cultured bananas are currently the main crop for farmers in many localities throughout the province.

Farmer Tran Van Duc (Hamlet 6, Xuan Bac Commune) currently has 100 hectares of tissue-cultured bananas for export (family land and land in partnership with other farmers). Due to his advantage as a banana buyer and direct exporter, depending on the time of year, Mr. Duc's tissue-cultured banana farm earns a profit of 150-250 million VND/hectare/year.

The road leading to the communes of Song Trau, Giang Dien, and Quang Tien in the former Trang Bom district, now part of Trang Bom commune, is lined with straight, lush green banana trees, providing shade for countless large and small rocks scattered beneath their roots.

Farmer Hoang Van Khuy (Quang Hoa hamlet, Trang Bom commune) shared: "Banana trees are not picky about soil or rocks. Thanks to growing bananas for export and traditional methods, I've been able to build a multi-million dollar house and send my two children to university. Therefore, even though the purchase price of bananas fluctuates, I still persevere in caring for them. Because, according to him, his 1.8-hectare banana plantation always remains green and full of bunches, and when the price of bananas is good, the family's economic situation will improve."

Bananas are currently a major fruit crop and one of Vietnam's most important export fruits. The export market for bananas is expanding, consumer demand is increasing sharply, while Vietnam has great potential in terms of acreage and production. Experts predict that, with effective production organization and disease control, Vietnam's banana export value could reach $1 billion in the near future.

Diem Quynh

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/kinh-te/202601/mau-xanh-tren-vung-dat-da-b682040/