It's undeniable that bananas, which are both affordable and palatable, are among the favourite fruits of Thais.
The Banana Bunch Agricultural Learning Centre was built to increase green space in the city. photos by Somchai Poomlard
As part of Thai cuisine culture, bananas are consumed in many ways. Kluay nam wa is nutritious food for infants. Kluay hom can be a healthy snack. Kluay kai is a good friend to women due to having high amounts of essential vitamins and minerals women in particular require.
But little is known, especially among Bangkok residents, how they are grown and processed.
But if urbanites wish to gain some insight into the cultivation and processing of this wonderful fruit in the city, then look no further than Banana Bunch Agricultural Learning Centre (Soon Rianroo Kluay Kluay) in Klong Sam Wa district.
Located just a 30-minute drive from the city centre, its name is derived from the popular Thai phase, kluay kluay which means “a piece of cake”.
Nestled in Klong Neung Tawan Tok, the centre features more than 50 varieties of bananas including rare breeds. And it is more than just a fruit farm — the centre provides a training programme for those who want to start a career in fruit processing.
The brainchild of Husdin Pinprachasan, chief of Klong Sam Wa district office, the centre was set up last year when he took office. The idea came when he saw a vacant plot of more than one rai near Klong Neung Tawan Tok and decided to turn it into an agricultural learning centre. The centre is also an attempt to increase green space in the city.
Klong Sam Wa district is the second-largest agricultural area in Bangkok, after Nong Chok district. And the soil is suitable for cultivation. Mr Husdin found the land was perfect for farming. The centre is funded out of his own pocket and is run with some help from city authorities.
Thais have grown up with bananas. The fruit can be found everywhere throughout the year. A banana tree does not require much care, he explained.
“The fruit is good for people in general and it can help farmers generate income,” Mr Husdin said.
There are a total of 53 varieties of bananas, both edible and non-edible species at the centre, according to Phuss Namwong, an official who oversees agriculture and farming activities in Klong Sam Wa district. The banana trees were supplied by Queen Sirikit Park in Chatuchak district and the Thai banana club in Chachoengsao province.
“Some bananas are not tasty but they are beautiful,” Mr Phuss said, citing there are several types of bananas known for their flowers or foliage but not their fruit.
He cited the most-sought after kluay nga chang (Musa ABB group) has physical features that look like an elephant’s tusk. A bunch of kluay nga chang is about 30cm long. When the fruit is ripe, it turns light yellow.
Most kluay nak (Musa sapientum L) are maroon and some are dark orange, while a bunch of kluay theppanom has its name derived from its resemblance to the human gesture of pressing the palms together. It is commonly used in Buddhist rites.
“The fruit produced may be attractive but isn't very tasty," Mr Phuss said.
While kluay taharnplarn (ranger) does not produce fruit, its leaves have strips similar to the uniform of a ranger, according to Mr Phuss.
“Such breeds have special traits. We find the rare breeds are worth saving,” he said, adding in the future, the centre would set up a laboratory to study the qualities of rare breeds and find ways to save them.
Back in 2010, Klong Sam Wa district office ordered officials to take note of unused land, including areas along Khlong Neung Tawan Tok, in order to put it to good use, said Jiranan Maichana, an official at the district office who was involved in the land survey.
“The office feared these areas would become crime-prone, where unruly people and drug gangs would gather for illegal activities,” she said, adding the strip of land where the centre is now was originally covered by trees and brush for years.
Under the land restoration plan, weeds were destroyed and waste was cleared away.
Initially, the centre was supposed to be a nursery while another piece of land opposite the centre was to be developed and turned into a car park, according to Ms Jiranan.
These plans were scrapped when Mr Husdin took over at the district office, she said.
Under Mr Husdin's leadership, the nursery became an agricultural learning centre while the planned car park is being developed into a small farm to be used for making natural fertiliser.
Mr Husdin said he wants the site to become a fully-integrated agricultural centre for banana farming and processing, making it the first and only such centre sponsored by the government.
It serves as a hands-on living classroom or field laboratory for banana cultivation.
Visitors can discover how bananas grow and can see the required care needed for banana trees at first hand.
They also have the chance to see ornamental bananas.
“The centre serves as an outdoor classroom for students where they can examine the fruit. We have more than kluay nam wa, kluay kai. We have kluay nga chang, kluay theppanom. Don’t miss them,” said Mr Husdin.
Facility improvements are under way, he said, adding the centre will be officially launched soon. It had a soft launch last week for the media and farmers.
There will be training programmes “all about banana cultivation” with banana processing set to start in June, according to Mr Husdin.
The centre is seeking assistance from academics and experts who will be invited to be guest speakers at programmes which will be arranged from time to time for farmers and those who want to start up fruit processing businesses.
The fruit processing programme will be an added bonus for locals, Mr Husdin said adding there is a rice processing club in the nearby community.
Phuss Namwong, who oversees agriculture and farming at Klong Sam Wa district, checks on some banana blossoms.