Why Grilled Banana Listed among World’s Most Delicious Desserts
	Housewives and Youth Trained on ‘Banana Fibre Extraction’

The indigenous dwarf banana production is significantly contributing for livelihood opportunities in Ta Rut commune of Quang Tri province.

Pa Ko farmers typically grow these dwarf bananas on flat lands near rivers and streams, with continuous harvests for many years from the same rootstock due to the proliferation of shoots.

Preserving precious plant varieties

When it comes to the specialty banana of the Pa Ko ethnic group in the mountainous district of Dakrong in the central province of Quang Tri, one must first mention the dwarf banana, known in the Pa Ko language as "Ta Pê." This variety is not only easy to cultivate and tend but also grows quickly, is less susceptible to pests and diseases, and yields high economic returns. Among the places cultivating the Pa Ko dwarf banana in Dakrong district, A Dang village in Ta Rut commune stands out.

However, banana farmers in Ta Rut used to face multiple difficulties as they could only sell to traders at fluctuating prices, making it hard to expand cultivation areas. However, after the Women's Union of Ta Rut commune received support from the "Reaching the Further Behind" program - funded by the Irish Embassy through Plan International Vietnam - to establish the A Dang village Cooperative in Ta Rut commune of Dakrong district, the story of dwarf bananas in Ta Rut along the Dakrong River began to gain progress.

Ho Thi So, Cooperative Leader of A Dang village in Ta Rut Commune, recounts their journey from day one when they established the dwarf banana model in 2019 on an initial area of 2 hectares with 15 female members. By the end of 2023, they increased to 20 members.

Starting March 2023, Plan International organized training on planting techniques, tending and provided seedlings. They also supported the cooperative with over VND 230 million (USD 9.123) to build a store, create a display point, and trade agricultural products.

In 2023, their cooperative earned 432 million VND (USD 17.136) from banana and produce sales, benefiting each member with VND 14,4 million (USD 571). From January to June 2024, she said, their revenue reached 215 million VND (USD 8.528), providing VND 7.2 million (USD 285) per member.

This income has helped them cover daily expenses like food, education costs for their children studying far away, and savings for their families, So shared.

Currently, the Ta Rut Women's Union is expanding the dwarf banana cultivation model to A Lieng and Vuc Leng villages, attracting 8 households of female cooperative members who have planted 480 banana trees.

It's noteworthy that the Pa Ko people in Ta Rut are increasingly aware of restoring and conserving precious banana varieties alongside other native agricultural products. That includes the rice banana, suitable for intercropping with dwarf bananas, and the robust elephant tusk banana, ideal for steep fields due to drought resistance in the face of climate change.

Source of enhancing income

According to the longstanding customs of the Pa Ko ethnic group, women traditionally rise early and stay up late to prep meals for their families, take care of their children, and work in remote fields. In their lives, women typically rely on their husbands' decisions, including financial matters, and have little time to integrate into society.

Since joining the cooperative, these women feel more confident in their roles within their families, are more active in social activities, and communicate more. As a result, their husbands have learned to share household chores and care for their children when the women are busy with production and business at the cooperative.

Bananas are known for their high nutritional values too. Potassium, fiber, magnesium, and vitamin C and B6 are among the nutritious contents in it. It is also believed as bananas help to fight depression, kidney cancer and diabetes.

Mai, a member of the A Dang Village Banana Cooperative, shared “The elephant tusk banana has almost vanished before, but thanks to the efforts of Pa Ko women, it is now more widespread. When grown on high fields, the fruit is huge, uniform, beautiful, with each bunch usually containing 12 to 13 fruits and 3 to 4 hands of bananas..."

Display and sale point of the A Dang Village Banana Cooperative, built with support from Plan International through the 'Reaching the Furthest Behind' program funded by the Irish Embassy.

Through the Commune Women's Union, the Cooperative coordinated with the District and Provincial Women's Unions to expand potential markets for products such as opening booths to introduce local agricultural products, connecting with supermarkets, local clean agricultural supply stores and marts in the neighboring provinces. The indigenous dwarf banana product has been put on sale at Coop Mart Supermarket in Dong Ha city of Quang Tri province.

In additions, some production establishments and business households in the province have purchased the dwarf banana to make dried bananas, freeze-dried bananas, banana candy, to name a few.

The A Dang Village Cooperative's banana store in Ta Rut commune, Dakrong district, was constructed with support from Plan International through the "Reaching the Furthest Behind" program funded by the Embassy of Ireland in Vietnam.

With practical support from Plan International and the Irish Embassy Vietnam, Pa Ko women in Ta Rut now have the opportunities to work closer to home - allowing them more time to care for their children, learn and improve sales skills, connect with markets through social media platforms like Facebook and Zalo, and understand profit accounting to become financially independent. This support fosters sustainable agricultural practices, enhances income, and promotes gender equality among mountainous women, enriching their roles and status in society.

"Women and Innovative Startups" Workshop Takes Place in Da Nang The event was held by the Union of Friendship Organizations of Da Nang City in collaboration with Catalyste+ (Canada) on July 5.

Vietnam Women's Union in Germany Presents Gifts to Veterans in Thai Binh On July 24, the Vietnam Women's Union in the Federal Republic of Germany organized a gift-giving program for veterans and relatives of veterans in Vu ...