Nakhon ratchasima: Large-scale farmers from Saeng Sang District are gearing up to send 5,000 tons of green bananas, valued at 50 million baht, to the Japanese market. The initiative aims to meet the Japanese demand for Thai green bananas.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Suchart Chomklin, Deputy Minister of Commerce, led the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between P and F Techno Co., Ltd. from Japan and Golden Banana Sukpaiboon Co., Ltd. from Nakhon Ratchasima. This agreement, under the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA), allows for the export of 8,000 tons of bananas annually, with the current export standing at 2,000 tons. The MOU will enhance the export of green bananas (Cavendish) from Thailand to Japan to 5,000 tons, valued at over 50 million baht, showcasing successful agricultural export practices.
The agreement utilizes the export quota, which exempts Thai bananas from import tax, encouraging farmers to cultivate green bananas due to their disease resistance, transportation durability, and favorable yield. The Department of Internal Trade supports farmers by offering expert advice, post-harvest care, quality selection, and appropriate packaging. Additionally, over 128,000 prototype green bananas have been planted on 400 rai to fulfill Japanese market demands.
The MOU is set to boost farmers’ income by up to 18,000 baht per rai, translating to an overall increase of 2-7.2 million baht for the farmers, marking a 4%-14% income rise from exporting green bananas to Japan.
Thong Suk Phaibun Co., Ltd., a prominent banana farmer group from Saeng Sang District, consists of approximately 100 family members with 1,500 rai of banana plantations. Each green banana tree takes about 8 months to bear fruit, aligning with the export requirements.