HCM City (VNS/VNA) – HCM City is working with several provinces to set up orchid supplychains and mitigate shortages there, especially during holidays when supplydwindles and prices shoot up.

According to the municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development,orchid was grown in the city on around 360 hectares, mostly in Hoc Mon, Cu Chiand Binh Chanh districts, and around 615 billion VND worth of orchid plants andbranches were supplied, with a focus on varieties such as mokara anddendrobium.

Dang Le Thi Thanh Huyen, director of Huyen Thoai Orchid Cooperative, saidbecause of its favourable climate and application of modern technologies HCMCity has better orchid output and quality than other places.

According to Vuon Mo Co Ltd, shops in many provinces sell orchid stems of poorquality as they have to rely on middlemen since they cannot regularly travelthe long distance to HCM City.

Tran Truong Son of the HCM City Farmers Association said orchid farmers in thecity face a similar problem and also have to rely on traders.

Tran Tan Quy, deputy director of the department, said it had been working withCan Tho city and south-western provinces to expand the orchid market andorganising conferences and networking events to link farmers and cooperativeswith distributors to form long-term partnerships.

The city also consulted farmers, distributors and other relevant parties todraft favourable policies.

The department is planning to organise a flower festival to promote orchids,which Le Thanh Lien, deputy chairman of the city People’s Committee, said wouldhelp the city’s plan to shift from rice to more profitable crops.

Son said small farmers should work together to ensure stable supply and prices,and relevant departments should organise networking events to help farmers findmore partners.

Pham Thiet Hoa, director of the Investment and Trade Promotion Centre, said thecentre had helped connect more than 60 businesses with farmers and cooperativesand held annual exhibitions to connect farmers directly with customers so thatthey did not have to rely on intermediaries.

Farmers had also improved their techniques and orchid quality over the years,he said.

The city plans to have around 600 hectares under orchids by 2030.-VNS/VNA