Bokeo banana exports surge
Bokeo banana exports surge
The number of bananas farmed on Chinese-owned plantations in Bokeo province has increased this year after plantations were expanded, resulting in larger amounts being shipped to China.
Meanwhile the provincial authorities are focusing on solutions to environmental impacts from the plantations, such as the use of herbicide, to protect the health of local communities.
Las t year Bokeo province exported 56,900 tonnes of bananas worth US$32.4 million but this year the amount increased to 65,700 tonnes worth US$43.5 million.
Provincial authorities believe the quantity will increase still further next year as plantations become even larger, an official from the provincial Industry and Commerce Department, Mr Vanxay, told Vi entiane Times yesterday.
The authorities banned new concession areas for banana plantations in recent years but most of the Chinese operators had already established plantations.
Bananas are now grown on 11,200 hectares, mostly in Tonpheung, Pha-oudom and Huayxai districts.
The crop is also grown in Luang Namtha, Oudomxay and Phongsaly provinces, and Xayaboury province is also under consideration.
However, residents of Bokeo, Luang Namtha and Oudomxay provinces have complained about the environmental impacts of the banana plantations, and have voiced concerns about the use of herbicide, water shortages, and garbage.
The provincial authorities approached the companies running the plantations and reached an agreement on solutions to these issues.
Provincial authorities asked companies to plant bananas far away from rivers to ensure water quality was not affected, while each company is now required to register to make regulation easier, and measures must be taken to protect the envir onment.
The situation has been dealt with through verbal negotiations only as no studies have been carried out to verify the truth of the claims about environmental damage.
A lack of oversight and poor management by the authorities concerning the contracts signed by the plantations operators has resulted in a garbage problem because waste materials have simply been left on the land or thrown away on roadsides and in other areas.
Oudomxay provincial authorities are urging every banana grower in the province to implement the agreement by collecting up garbage, especially plastic bags, herbicide bottles, packing boxes and banana branches, and disposing of them in places that do not harm the environment.
Provincial authorities also plan to carry out a fact-finding mission to determine which companies are operating legally and which are not.
Last year, Laos exported over 260,000 tonnes of bananas and received payment of about US$45 million. The figure is expected to increase this year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
