Growing bananas for their leaves provides a decent income.

After harvesting, banana leaves are purchased directly from the farmers by traders at a price of around 5,000 VND/kg; during periods of high demand, the price can be higher.

The family of Mr. Vo Minh Ut, in Vo Doi hamlet, owns 5.5 hectares of land planted with banana trees, specifically the Siamese banana variety, which is resistant to pests and diseases, requires little care, and yields harvests year-round. Every day, from dawn until 3 PM, Mr. Ut and his wife harvest banana leaves.

According to Mr. Ut, to obtain beautiful leaves that fetch a good price, one must select intact leaves that are not torn, still have their pollen dust, are large, 25-30 cm wide, and have a vibrant green color. After removing the stems, the banana leaves are neatly stacked and handed over to traders on the same day for distribution.

Vo Minh Ut's family earns a stable income from growing bananas and selling the leaves.

Anh Út said: "Thanks to the banana trees along the embankment, my wife and I can cut about 200 kg of banana leaves a day. Traders come directly to buy them at 5,000 VND/kg, bringing in 1 million VND per day. During holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year), the selling price is around 6,500 VND/kg, depending on the quality of the leaves, bringing in 1.3 million VND per day."

Growing bananas for their leaves is simple, but it's heavily dependent on the weather. According to Mr. Ut, bananas grow better in the dry season than in the rainy season; during the rainy months, the water level is high, making the banana plants susceptible to waterlogging and leaf damage from the wind. "During the rainy season, the drainage here is poor, affecting the banana plants and reducing income. This is a major concern for the locals whenever they consider expanding the model of growing bananas for their leaves," Mr. Ut shared.

Not only the Ut family but many households in Tran Hoi commune have risen out of poverty and become wealthy from growing banana leaves. Previously, the main consumers of banana leaves were sausage shops and bakeries, but now they are also widely used in supermarkets to wrap food. The increased demand for banana leaves has helped stabilize the lives of people who make a living from growing banana leaves.

Mr. Tran Minh Thuat, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Tran Hoi commune, said: "Looking ahead, the Association will advise the People's Committee and the Party Committee of the commune to seek opinions on replicating this model and establishing a cooperative to purchase banana leaves from the people. The Association will also coordinate with the Party branch and the hamlet government to encourage people to renovate their mixed orchards to plant banana trees to supply banana leaves to the market inside and outside the commune."

Although the work is arduous, the stable income from growing banana leaves has motivated Mr. Ut's family and many other households in Tran Hoi commune to persevere in this profession. This is a product with potential for future development due to its environmental friendliness. With the economic benefits it brings, growing banana leaves in Tran Hoi commune opens up new prospects for generating good income and improving the lives of the local people.

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