VietNamNet Bridge – Coming to Tan Long commune, within the mountainous Huong Hoa District in the central province of Quang Tri. These days one will see bustling banana markets. Thanks to bananas, many people have built spacious houses and got rich.

The banana market in Vay Village in Tan Long commune is always bustling.

Traders come to the market to buy bananas to transport to the plain and to China.

Tan Long bananas have been known for its quality.

Local farmers carry bananas from villages to the market by motorbikes.

During the harvest season, many families earn several million dong per day.

Some traders buy bananas on the spot. Planting banana has become a

movement in Tan Long in recent years. The area devoted to bananas

has doubled since 2005, to over 800 hectares. Bared hills have been

replaced by banana gardens.

Bananas are sold at VND3,000-5,000 per kilo, or VND100,000-200,000 ($5-10)

per bunch. Farmers can earn VND30-50 million from one hectare of bananas

a year. The entire commune earns VND20-25 billion/year (over $1 million).

Not only bananas and banana leaves…

But also banana inflorescences also become goods.

Local people have escaped from poverty thanks to banana.

Many families have got rich from the fruit.

Tan Long Commune Chair, Do Van Kha, said the ratio of poor families has

fell from 37 percent in 1995 to 10.6 percent at present. The commune’s per capita

income also rose from VND4.5 million ($300) in 2005 to VND11 million

(over $500) in 2010, compared to VND9 million of the neighboring commune, named Tan Thanh.

Tan Long commune is now covered by banana trees. Locals don’t have to burn

forests to develop crops anymore. Though it is a mountain commune, 20 percent

of families are rated as well-to-do and some have had cars.

PV