Although chili pepper and banana leaves are not worth much domestically, farmers have earned hundreds of millions in VND through exports of these products.
Farmers earn millions of VND per year from exporting chili leaves
While other fields in the Red River Delta are occupied with growing cabbage, cauliflower and onions at this time, the area surrounding Xuan Tri Village in Ninh Giang District, Hai Duong Province is covered with chili peppers. In the last two years this has become main source of income for the village.
A farmer said that in a good year she could earn hundreds of millions in VND by selling leaves. When trade starts in the market in the afternoon, numerous sellers rush to the spot with large bags filled with the leaves.
Tran, a major trader at Xuan Tri village shared that this type of leaf is in great demand in South Korea, Japan and Malaysia.
Like chili leaves, banana leaves have also become sought-after in recent years. The first, and only, company to export banana leaves is called Thanh Hai, based out of Nha Be District in Ho Chi Minh city.
Lam Minh Thanh, General Director of Thanh Hai, shared a discovery that he came across during a business trip to the US - while there is a large market for products like fish sauce and banana leaves, most of this market goes to Taiwan and Thailand.
So he started exporting banana leaves to A&M Seafood Corporation, and at the end of 2008, the company exported a total of 20 tonnes of leaves. The leaves became an instant hit among overseas Vietnamese populations.
Currently, Thanh Hai is exporting one container of leaves per month to America, while Eastern Europe and China are also becoming major customers of banana leaves.
One trader commented that there is a large demand, while the domestic supply is small. Many farmers are not aware of the value of the leaves, and harvest them last. At the same time, leaves for export must meet food hygiene and safety standards.
Although chili pepper leaves are still considered to be a unique export, the market appears to be growing. Banana leaves are also being recognised in many areas as a cash crop.
Traders collecting chili pepper leaves to export
