(VOVworld) – In recent years, growing bananas has helped farmers in the border communes of Phong Tho district, Lai Chau province, improve their living conditions. Huoi Luong commune has taken the lead in turning bananas into a way out of poverty.  

Farmers in Po To hamlet are taking care of banana trees. (Photo: Thanh Hoa)

The road to Huoi Luong commune leads past hillsides now covered by banana trees.

Tan Chin Phu, a farmer in Po To hamlet, Huoi Luong commune, says there are six people in his family. Some years ago, the family was listed as a poor household. Thanks to planting one hectare of bananas, his family’s living standard has been steadily improving. His children now attend school.

Phu said: “We’ve been growing bananas for two years, and now gross 45 USD a week. We grow both corn and banana trees and that earns us enough to live on. Other villagers have turned to planting more bananas and less corn.”

Giang Phu Lin’s family in La Van hamlet began growing bananas 3 years ago. After a successful pilot program, Lin decided to use all the land previously planted in cassava and corn to grow bananas. Since then Lin’s family has enjoyed a solid income and has been able to help other villagers with seedlings.

“In my hamlet and the rest of Huoi Luong commune, people are growing bananas, which gives us higher incomes. That’s because banana trees grow well in the local hilly terrain. In my hamlet each household grows at least 1,000 trees. Some grow two or three thousand trees,” said Lin.

A location for banana gathering in Huoi Luong border commune. (Photo: nhandan.com.vn)

In recent years, Huoi Luong’s banana market has been busy with traders arriving early in the morning to buy bananas. Phan Thi Hoa, a regular trader at the market, says the banana supply here is relatively stable. She buys several tons a day to re-sell to foreign partners.

Hoa told VOV’s reporter: “Every day someone carries bananas to the market to sell for us. The selling price is higher than for other farm produce so our income is quite good. Right now bananas are about 0.45 USD a kilo.”

Since the model was introduced in 2009, the banana cultivation area has grown to 750 hectares. Ly A Hanh, Chairman of the Huoi Luong People’s Committee, says bananas have reduced the local poverty rate from 70% in 2010 to 15% last year. Living conditions have improved and per capital income is now 675 USD a year, three times what it was five years ago.

Hanh explained: “Growing corn was not very productive so villagers decided to switch to banana farming for a higher yield. On average, locals earn nearly 6,800 USD a year from one hectare. Thanks to crop restructuring, their lives have changed a lot. Many have been able to buy cars.”

Banana growing has spread to Lang, Ma Ly Pho, and Ma Ly Chai hamlet, where villagers are hoping it will reduce poverty and make them prosperous.