France, June 29 -- Malawi's once-thriving banana industry is battling for survival, brought to its knees by disease outbreaks, trade disruptions and years of neglect. In the hills of Thyolo, though, a quiet resurgence is taking root.

Henderson Kopoland, 45, mainly works from his grocery shop at a small trading centre in Konzaalendo Village in Thyolo District, southernMalawi.

Visitors to this remote spot may not realise where his wealth comes from or that he runs another business far away.

About one hundred kilometres from the tarmac road lies a large plot of land about 6.5 hectares wide where green vegetation gives way to thick banana plants heavy with large bunches.

Locals often talk about how hard it used to be to reach this area. ...