At a flower village in Dong Thap province. (Photo: VNA) In Sa Dec flower village in Sa Dec city, the largest flowervillage in Dong Thap province, about 1.5 million pots of various kinds offlowers are being grown for Tet, including more than 270,000 chrysanthemumpots.
Vo Thanh Tung, a farmer in Sa Dec city, planted 5,000 baskets ofchrysanthemums this year, an increase of about 20% from last year. The averagecost for each flower crop is over 100 million VND (4,300 USD). Traders arebuying chrysanthemum pots in advance for prices ranging from 80,000 VND to 90,000VND (3.5 – 3.9 USD) a pot, up 20,000 VND to 30,000 VND from the previous Tetdepending on the quality.
Farmers are earning a profit of 30,000 VND – 50,000 VND for eachchrysanthemum pot. Chrysanthemums, one of the preferred Tet flowers, can bloomfor more than one month.
Tran Be Hai, who is growing 10,000 chrysanthemum pots in Sa Dec City’sTan Quy Dong ward, said that he hoped the flowers would bloom on time for Tetand be more beautiful this year because of favourable weather.
The price of various types of flowers in the village had alsoincreased by 20 – 30% compared to last Tet, he said.
With advanced farming techniques, farmers in the delta can nowmake most flowers bloom during Tet in order to fetch good prices.
Nguyen Thi Ngoc, Head of the Economic Department of Sa Dec city,said that according to statistics, farmers had sown more than 60 hectares ofseeds, and were expected to increase to 100 hectares, an increase of nearly 40%compared to the previous year. This year's traditional flower types were stillmarigolds, chrysanthemums, and auspicious flowers, along with some newvarieties such as red and purple raspberry chrysanthemums.
The quantity of flower and ornamental plants grown for Tet in manyflower villages has increased this year. Farmers have also planted more newflower varieties such as foreign rose and daisy varieties.
Tran Huu Nghi, Deputy Head of the Division of Agriculture andRural Development of Cho Lach district, said that in Ben Tre province’s Cho Lachdistrict, which is the delta’s largest flower producer, farmers would supplyabout 15 million pots of flowers and ornamental plants to the market, anincrease of 2 million products compared to last year. The main flowers areraspberry chrysanthemum, hyacinth, marigold, yellow apricot, and kumquat.
According to forecasts of the authorities, by the end of the year,saltwater intrusion will not be as severe as three years ago. Although rainyweather causes waterlogging, most people have experience in handling pesticidesin a timely manner so the damage is insignificant.
However, because the output of Tet flowers this year is high,farmers needed to sign contracts with traders, Nghi said.
Cho Lach district produces many ornamental plants in variousshapes, including the animals representing the 12-year zodiac cycle, in whicheach year is related to one animal.
The coming Tet is the Year of the Dragon, so the district ismaking many ornamental plants in the shape of the dragon./.
VNA
