Successful banana model resistant to Panama yellowing disease

To restore the damaged banana fields, Ms. Ly Sin Phong in Nam Tang village, Ban Cam commune, Bao Thang district bought seeds herself to plant. However, the banana plants were still infected and gradually died. Ms. Phong had to switch to growing corn to recover some of the losses.

Ms. Phong said: "The banana tree's leaves turned yellow and then gradually died. I fertilized it several times, thinking I could harvest it, but all the bananas died. I didn't feel it was a waste to leave the land, so I planted corn. I also want to plant disease-free bananas to help my business grow better."

Ms. Ly Sin Phong had to plant corn to replace the banana area that died due to Panama yellowing disease.

Next to Ms. Phong’s garden is the banana acreage of Mr. Vang Si Vang’s family, growing banana varieties resistant to Panama yellowing disease. Although planted on a banana acreage that had previously been infected with the disease, his family’s banana acreage still grew well, after 10 months it began to produce bunches, some of which were ready for harvest.

Mr. Vang Si Vang, in Nam Tang village, Ban Cam commune, Bao Thang district said: "If it takes 10 months to grow, the loss of 0.3% is not significant. I am very excited to grow banana varieties that are resistant to Panama yellow leaf disease. Traders come to buy and choose bunches, they pay 400,000 VND/bunch but I do not agree because they only choose big bunches. I sell by weight, 18,000 VND/kg".

Mr. Nung Van Doan, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ban Cam Commune, Bao Thang District, added: "Households in Nam Tang village want to register to plant, but they are still worried about the output. We have propagated and shared with people that they must dare to do and dare to implement in order to be successful."

Mr. Vang's banana garden that is resistant to Panama yellowing disease is growing and developing well.

The model of growing bananas resistant to Panama yellowing disease was implemented by the Lao Cai Provincial Agricultural Seed Center in collaboration with the Central Fruit and Vegetable Research Institute at 4 households in Muong Khuong, Bat Xat, Bao Thang and Bao Yen districts. Households were supported with 300 banana seedlings, planted on the same banana areas that were infected with the disease. After 10 months of cultivation, in addition to the model in Bao Yen district that was damaged by natural disasters, the banana models in Bat Xat and Bao Thang districts all developed well, while the model in Muong Khuong district was slower due to drought. Notably, the rate of infected bananas was only 1%, which is a condition for farmers to expand the area in the coming years.

Mr. Pham Quoc Cuong, Deputy Director of Lao Cai Province Agricultural Seed Center added: "We have cooperated with the Central Fruit and Vegetable Research Institute, Lao Cai Province Agricultural Seed Center will be the locality for breeding and distribution in the province. In addition to good growth and development, the appearance of the fruit, bunches, and bunches are all beautiful, ensuring export standards, especially for the domestic market, it is very good".

Successful testing of banana varieties resistant to Panama yellowing disease, combined with negotiations to obtain the copyright for tissue culture and production of this banana variety in Lao Cai, the goal of stabilizing about 3,500 hectares of commercial bananas by 2025 as set out in Resolution 10 is achievable. This is also an opportunity for farmers to get rich from the province's main crop.

Ngoc Ha - Nong Quy

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