The effectiveness of Pieng Pho royal banana

(Baonghean) - It can be said that Phieng Pho village, Pha Danh commune, Ky Son district is the "capital" of the royal banana tree. For many years, the royal banana tree has been considered an effective "hunger eradication and poverty reduction" tree by the people here.

Pieng Pho village chief, Mr. Lo Van Xuan, is taking care of the banana garden and shares: In the 2000s, some villagers who went to work far from home brought back the royal banana variety. Initially, they were planted for "self-sufficiency", but later some households planted bananas commercially, and now the whole village is planting them. According to Mr. Lo Van Xuan, his family also planted 2 hectares of royal bananas (equivalent to over 1,500 banana trees). The characteristics of the royal banana tree are that it is suitable for sloping land, "breeds well", has short bunches, closely packed bunches, thin skin, sweet and delicious. Bananas are ready for harvest after about 6 months. Each bunch has an average of 5 - 6 sheaths (hands).

Banana forest in Pieng Pho village, Pha Danh commune, Ky Son

In years with favorable weather, banana trees bring high income. This year, the cold weather has limited income, but it is still several times more profitable than growing rice on the fields. The selling price at the garden is from 20 VND/bunch on weekdays, 70,000 VND/bunch on holidays, giving an annual income of 60-70 million VND. Thanks to growing banana trees, my family has money to cover our living expenses and build a new, spacious house.

It is known that Pieng Pho village has 62 households, of which over 60% grow bananas, with a total banana growing area of ​​over 20 hectares. During the Lunar New Year, due to increased demand, Pieng Pho people do not sell by bunch but by kilogram, the price during the New Year reaches 15,000 VND/kg of royal bananas, traders bring cars to the place to bring them back to the lowlands for consumption. Each month, Pieng Pho village harvests 20-25 tons of bananas, with a revenue of 30-70 million VND. Not to mention the income from banana flowers, which are also sold for 5,000-7,000 VND/each. The development of banana cultivation also leads to the development of livestock farming, because after harvesting bananas, banana stems are used to raise pigs, buffaloes and cows, and banana leaves are used to raise fish.

Royal bananas are brought to the lowlands for consumption.

Ms. Vi Thi Thanh, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Pha Danh Commune, shared more: Growing bananas on sloping land not only brings economic value but also has an effect on the ecological environment and effectively prevents erosion. The commune is continuing to review some villages to have a plan to convert some ineffective upland rice fields to grow bananas up to about 40-50 hectares. Focus on growing bananas for sale, the output for this type of banana is very easy to consume. Expanding banana cultivation, the commune will encourage people to expand and develop livestock farming to take advantage of by-products from banana trees to increase income, reduce poverty among the people.

Van Truong