Currently, banana farming in Vietnam is facing a paradox: While many small-scale banana plantations are struggling to find markets, banana producers following VietGap standards cannot keep up with surging demands, particularly from foreign markets.
30 ha banana plantation owned by Thiện Tâm Thành Company in Hưng Yên Province. All the land is clear of weeds, and each bunch of bananas is carefully covered with a plastic bag.
Farmers in the neighborhood often supply bananas to Thiện Tâm Thành Company. They have been well-trained by the company in farming techniques and are given safe seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides. All bananas for export are carefully selected and processed.
Thiện Tâm Thành Company now receives orders from Japan, South Korea, and Egypt. Each ton of bananas can be sold for 300 USD. Foreign customers even visit the company’s workshop to inspect the production process.
Thiện Tâm Thành Company exports 3,000 tons of bananas per year, and has the potential to increase that figure 3-fold. However, the company still faces difficulties in expanding its production chain. This is also the case for other VietGap banana producers; they do not expand their businesses because bananas are not listed among the primary crops.
Experts say that Vietnam’s banana productivity is low, as farming and processing techniques do not meet food safety standards. In order to boost banana exports, VietGap standards must be strictly enforced.
