Orchid shows off for springtime

Orchid is considered to be hardly growing in a locality of hot weather like BinhDuongProvince; however, orchid has become the symbol of high-tech agricultural success in BinhDuongProvince. If we would like to pick a plant of clearcut benefits from high-tech application, orchid should be named first.

As the Program No. 26-CTr/TU dated September 20, 2011 was initiated by Binh Duong Provincial Party Committee regarding the transition of urban agriculture and high-tech agriculture in connection with processing industries in 2011 to 2015 (Program 26 of local Party Committee), orchid has been selected as the first plant to be expanded in growing.

Springtime at Dinh Hoa Village of orchid

Many years ago, Mr. Huynh Van Sanh residing at Quarter 6 oaf Dinh Hoa Ward in Thu Dau Mot City saught out know-how to plant the first ever Mokara. Through challenges and hard working, the species grew to offer the best blossom notably appreciated by domestic and foreign markets. Up to date, the orchid garden of Mr. Sanh has become one of the largest garden in Dinh Hoa with over 6,000 Mokara roots. Learning from the success of Mr. Sanh, by now 10 other families have been investing into Mokara. Mr. Hoang Van Minh at Quarter 2 of the same village have been investing into 20,000 roots of Moth Orchid to earn billions of VND annually.

Mr. Huynh Van Sanh is standing beside the full blossom of his orchid garden. Photo: K. Vinh.

At Dinh Hoa, orchid has become the major plant bringing high income to the locals. The success of Dinh Hoa village of orchid was thanks to the transformation of a rural locality to urban areas with 506.86 hectares of land reduced to 36.6 hectares for the development of Binh Duong New City and connection traffic system. On recognizing great decline of rural land area, local ward has coordinated with Binh Duong Provincial Center for Agriculture Promotion to organize tens of thousand training courses on orchid planting. Up to date, Dinh Hoa Village of Orchid has covered over 10,000 square meters for Mokara and Moth Orchid.

Effective economic model

Visiting the local orchid garden, we easily recognized stable income from orchid trading. Mr. Huynh Van Sanh informed that with over 5,000 roots of orchid, he could earn VND 10 million a month by selling blossom branches or the whole roots. Hoang Lien Orchid Garden of Mr. Mai Quoc Thai in Dau Tieng District, in the year’s ending days, has attracted many merchants requesting for trade. By the favorable weather, the garden could now offer over 100,000 pots of Mokara in good growth.

Six years ago, Thai, on himself, travelled to Thailand to investigate the Mokara planting models. Then, he brought back the species to be grown on an area of his rubber tree plantation. Thai said that the income he get had been great surprise as orchid had been considered as a hobby rather than getting income from it.

Currently, orchid planting movement in Binh Duong Province have been widespreaded on an area of 244.7 hectares for orchid at family to farm scale. Apparently, planting orchid is no longer a pure hobby but an economic model to get rich.

Reported by Khanh Vinh – Translated by Vi Bao