Pink banana – New crop for highland areas

(Baonghean)Pink banana is known as a specialty banana variety, in the past often used as a tribute to kings with many advantages compared to other banana varieties. Especially in recent times, this variety has been selected, restored and successfully propagated by the Fruit and Vegetable Research Institute using the cell tissue culture method, for harvest after 12-14 months, with a yield 1.5-1.7 times higher than that of common banana varieties.

The intensive banana cultivation model implemented in the Northern provinces has given successful results, with a profit of 100 million VND/ha/year, 3-4 times higher than rice cultivation, bringing great economic and social efficiency. Nghe An is a province with a long tradition of banana cultivation with a variety of varieties such as banana, royal banana... However, the planting area is still scattered in family gardens, production is self-sufficient, and good banana varieties with real economic efficiency have not been found. Therefore, building a concentrated banana cultivation model, choosing banana varieties with high efficiency such as banana in the Northern provinces is the concern of farmers.

With the support of the Department of Science and Technology, the project "Application of scientific and technological equipment to build a concentrated model of growing red bananas in Nghe An" has been implemented by the High-tech Plant Breeding Station with the following objectives: Receiving and perfecting the technology of propagating red bananas using the method of plant tissue culture and intensive cultivation techniques of red bananas suitable for the conditions of Nghe An province; Applying the technical process to build a model of producing red banana seedlings using the method of plant tissue culture; Building a demonstration model of intensive cultivation techniques of red bananas in the project area to achieve high productivity and income, contributing to shifting the crop structure, improving economic efficiency for farmers, especially on highland areas.

After 2 years of implementation (2011-2013), the project has brought about some positive results. With the help of the Fruit and Vegetable Research Institute, the High-Tech Plant Breeding Station (CNC) has successfully received and completed the technology of propagating red bananas using tissue culture technology, including: the technology process of propagating red bananas using tissue culture method in the laboratory stage and the technology process of nursery of red bananas propagating using plant tissue culture method (technology process of invitro tree care in nursery stage I, II), with adjustments and supplements to suit the actual conditions in Nghe An. Since then, the Station has proactively created a source of disease-free seeds, high uniformity, reduced costs, meeting production needs.

Banana growing model of Mr. Ho Xuan Du's household - Thuong Son commune - Do Luong.

The project has chosen to plant on an area of ​​5 hectares in Dai Thanh commune - Yen Thanh district and Thuong Son commune - Do Luong district. During the model implementation period, the Station regularly sent technical staff to the site to instruct farmers on how to plant and care for bananas, ensuring proper technical procedures. The actual productivity and economic efficiency from the model shows that, in highland areas, rice and crop production is not effective, but growing tissue-cultured red bananas with intensive technical measures still gives very high yields (from 30.6-35.7 tons/ha). Through the trial planting period, tissue-cultured bananas are quite adapted to the climate and soil conditions in the two model construction locations, the mortality rate after planting is low, and the plants grow well. From tissue-cultured seedlings only 20cm high, after about 10 months the plants are about 1.5m high and can begin to be harvested.

The technical process of planting and fertilizing is not too complicated: dig a planting hole (40x40cm), water enough moisture, do not let it get flooded, the bananas grow evenly, green well, on average reaching 7 bunches/bunch with a weight of 20-30kg. Because the pink banana variety is produced by tissue culture technology, it has advantages over the normal banana variety: it is cleaner, has delicious fruit quality, beautiful appearance, and a short growing time (9-10 months).

In particular, the red banana variety, when ripe, can be kept for a long time, from 10-15 days, without being bruised or crushed, very convenient for traders to buy, sell, transport and consume products; average harvest time: 12-13 months. Mr. Ho Xuan Du's family (Thuong Son commune - Do Luong) is the owner of the model participating in the project of growing red banana on an area of ​​2 hectares, said: The red banana variety is easy to grow, suitable for soil conditions, adaptable to adverse weather conditions, only needs some basic techniques, enough water and adequate nutrition for the tree to be healthy and grow quickly. The red banana tree bears fruit all year round, with beautiful fruit appearance, delicious and sweet quality, the price of bananas at the garden is from 6,000-7,000 VND/kg, meeting the requirements of consumers. The direct effect from the banana growing model brings in an income of over 130 million VND/ha.

During the implementation of the pink banana growing model at 2 locations, many people in the province and neighboring areas came to visit, learn techniques, and exchange experiences. This shows that people are very interested in the success of the project and the economic efficiency of this banana variety. Pink banana is currently a product that is very popular in domestic and foreign markets (especially China). Therefore, expanding the area of ​​concentrated banana cultivation will create a large volume of products to supply the market. In addition, adjusting the crop season to have products for consumption during Tet will bring high economic efficiency. However, for the project to develop and spread further, it is necessary to continue to receive the attention of all levels and sectors, opening up a direction of concentrated specialized cultivation of a commodity nature and bringing economic efficiency to farmers.

From the above results, it can be said that the introduction of tissue cultured red banana varieties in Nghe An is a new and correct direction, which has been widely agreed and responded to by local people. The success of the project will contribute to changing the backward production practices of the people, improving economic efficiency on highland and low hilly land, creating jobs, improving the lives of workers to develop the province's agriculture, contributing to hunger eradication and poverty reduction, increasing income for local people.

Thanh Hoa (Center for Science, Technology and Informatics Information)