Sweet and fragrant Bản Nguyên banana

Cavendish bananas have long been associated with the land of Ban Nguyen commune and are increasingly asserting their position in the development of local agricultural economy. Recognizing market demand, the Quynh Lam Agricultural Service Cooperative in Ban Nguyen commune has invested in and built a large-scale, safe banana production chain, creating a stable income for farmers, contributing to increasing the value of agricultural products, and bringing many benefits not only to its members and farmers but also to the community.

Leading us to visit the concentrated banana plantations of many households in the commune, Mr. Han Quang Vinh - Director of Quynh Lam Agricultural Service Cooperative, shared: "The bananas are planted in rows, evenly and straight. Currently, the cooperative has nearly 800 members linked to banana consumption, with a total banana cultivation area of ​​nearly 30 hectares of Cavendish bananas, including 6 hectares planted according to VietGAP standards and 20 hectares of Gros Michel bananas. The household with the most bananas has nearly 2 hectares. It takes one year from planting to harvesting a bunch of bananas. Cavendish bananas are mainly planted at the beginning of the year for sale during the Lunar New Year, so around January and February of the lunar calendar, people start digging up cuttings and planting bananas. When prices are good, a bunch of Cavendish bananas can fetch 500,000 to 1,000,000 VND."

Mr. Dang Van Tan, a member of the Quynh Lam Agricultural Service Cooperative in Ban Nguyen commune, has successfully implemented a model for growing Cavendish bananas to generate stable income.

Ban Nguyen Cavendish bananas are considered to be more fragrant, sweet, and nutritious than other types of bananas. When green, the peel is attached to the flesh, but when ripe and yellow, the peel automatically separates, making it easy to peel. When ripe, the flesh turns a golden yellow color like chicken fat, emitting a pleasant sweet aroma. When eaten, the flesh is soft and chewy, with a sweet, lingering taste on the tongue. Cavendish bananas are good for health, with many benefits such as: supplementing nutrients, acting as an antioxidant, aiding digestion, stabilizing blood pressure, and improving cardiovascular health.

Amidst the vast green banana fields, members of the cooperative diligently and meticulously care for their plants, anticipating healthy growth, high-quality fruit, and attractive appearance, promising good prices for the harvest during this year's Tet holiday. Mr. Nguyen Khac Dung from Zone 13 excitedly shared: "This strip of land along the river was originally used by us farmers to grow bananas and other vegetables, with the top priority being the cultivation of Cavendish bananas, covering nearly 1 hectare. Thanks to the correct application of techniques, the product is of high quality and popular with customers, mainly sold during Tet, so the price is quite high. Each plot currently has about 90 trees, with a fruiting rate of nearly 70%. We don't have to worry about finding buyers; traders come directly to the farm to purchase the produce. Especially, during the period from planting to harvesting, my family also intercrops other vegetables to increase income and improve our lives."

With many years of experience in banana cultivation and a constant pursuit of new methods, Mr. Han Hung Dung in Zone 7 said: "Currently, my family cultivates nearly 1 hectare of bananas, yielding an average income of over 100 million VND per year. Bananas are easy to grow, suitable for alluvial and sandy soils, adaptable to all weather conditions, and require little care. To ensure the banana bunches meet quality and appearance standards, when the bunches are fully formed, farmers begin to prune the tops, shaping the fruit clusters, leaving only 8-10 clusters per bunch. They then wrap the bananas in plastic to protect them from insects and, importantly, tie them with string to prevent the plants from falling over."

Due to weather conditions, the taste and sweetness of Cavendish bananas and plantains vary seasonally. Therefore, Cavendish bananas are preferred in winter, while plantains are preferred in summer. Since these two types of bananas are harvested out of season, banana growers have products to sell year-round.

In line with the trends of modern agriculture, it is crucial for producers to prove the origin of their products. The cooperative strives to maintain credibility and build a brand for long-term, sustainable development, ensuring production processes adhere to VietGAP standards and are assigned planting area codes. To date, the Ban Nguyen Cavendish banana product has been granted a collective trademark by the Intellectual Property Office of the Ministry of Science and Technology and has received OCOP 3-star certification. This is one of the important solutions to protect the rights and create value for local agricultural products.

The Cavendish bananas grown by the Quynh Lam Agricultural Service Cooperative in Ban Nguyen commune have become one of the successful production linkage models, generating significant income for members and the cooperative, and are being emulated and replicated in many localities. This is a correct direction in rural economic development, contributing to sustainable poverty reduction, job creation, and increased income for farmers; it also makes a positive contribution to the program for developing commercial agriculture and promoting stable and sustainable local economic development.

Hoang Huong

Source: https://baophutho.vn/thom-ngot-chuoi-tieu-ban-nguyen-237091.htm