Gardeners across the province are busy preparing various types of flowers to meet the needs of consumers as the Lunar New Year is approaching. Understanding the demands and tastes of the people, many farmers in Tru Van Tho commune of Bau Bang district have invested in developing flower cultivation models to supply for the market.
Family of Mr. Tho add up their income from cultivation of flowers for sales on Tet
Income increases
For the past 23 years, Mr. Huynh Van Tho, from Hamlet 4, Tru Van Tho Commune, has been closely tied to the land of Bau Bang. He recently started growing ornamental flowers to serve the Tet market for the past 3 years. Previously, his family mainly cultivated fruit trees such as rambutan and durian. With a background in ornamental flower cultivation since his days in the Mekong Delta, in 2020, Mr. Huynh's family decided to expand their flower-growing model in a new area. This decision was driven by their passion for the trade and the desire to uphold their family's traditional profession, while also meeting market demands.
This year's Lunar New Year flower business, Mr. Tho's family cultivated over 6,000 pots of various types, such as chrysanthemums, cockscomb, paper flowers, corn plants, and over 2,000 pots of ornamental plants like apricot blossoms, bamboo orchids, and cycads. Mr. Tho shared, "My family has been in the flower cultivation business for a long time. It's a pity to throw them away, so we decided to grow flowers for the short period of the Lunar New Year, which requires less care and provides quick income. In the 2023 Lunar New Year flower season, my family earned a profit of nearly 200 million VND."
The family of Mr. Dinh Hoang Dung and Mrs. Vo Thi Thu Ha, in Hamlet 4, Tru Van Tho commune, primarily rely on the business of cultivating flowers and ornamental plants. In addition to growing various types of flowers and ornamental plants for the Tet market, such as cockscomb, marigold, and sunflower, the family has a particular strength in cultivating apricot blossoms.
Introducing us to the various sizes of apricot blossom pots, Ms. Ha happily shared: "This year, our family has cultivated over 3,000 different types of flowers and ornamental plants to serve the market. On average, during the short Tet flower season, our family earns nearly 100 million VND. As for the year-round sale of apricot trees, the strongest demand is during Tet, with prices ranging from several tens of millions to 100-200 million VND per pot, depending on the type."
Dung’s family is preparing pots of apricot blossoms to supply for Tet market
Mr. Nguyen Minh Trung, Deputy Chairman of the Farmers' Association in Tru Van Tho commune, stated that thanks to careful preparation of the breeding and care process, the flower area of Mr. Tho and Mr. Dung's family has developed well, ensuring quality. Currently, the commune has about 7 households specializing in growing apricot trees and 4 households growing mixed flowers. In addition to regularly organizing training courses on agriculture, the commune also supports farmer members with loan capital for investing in ornamental pots, fertilizers, and family economic development.
The multiplied joy
Present at the gardens of the farmers, a myriad of vibrant and colorful flowers can be seen these days, creating a sense of liveliness and urgency. The Lunar New Year flower season is eagerly anticipated by the farmers, as it holds the highest expectations for the year.
To have beautiful and appealing flower pots, the grower must know how to choose good seedlings and calculate the appropriate time for sowing. With years of experience, Mr. Tho and Mr. Dung have no difficulty in taking care of their flowers. Mr. Tho shared: "For short-term flowers like cockscomb and marigold, we sow the seeds in October, while for persimmon trees, we plant them in June. Knowing how to care for them and adjusting the timing according to the weather will help the flowers bloom beautifully at the right time for the Lunar New Year."
This year, Mr. Dung said while watering around 1,000 pots of marigold flowers, "Due to the hot weather, some plants have bloomed early, but the majority will blossom during the Tet holiday. Usually, it is around the 22nd or 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month when people start buying flowers in large quantities. Close to Tet, my family usually sets up a booth at Chon Thanh market (Binh Phuoc) to display and sell to visitors at the spring fair. Due to the difficult market this year, we have reduced the quantity of some short-lived flower varieties."
This year, the forecast is for a more challenging Tet flower market, but that hasn't stopped gardeners from diligently pursuing their work. In addition to increasing their income, they always aspire to bring each family pots of spring flowers to welcome the Lunar New Year. Growing Tet flowers is a way to nurture joy and prepare for an exciting and fortunate new year.
Reported by Tien Hanh – Translated by Vi Bao
