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| A farmer tends chrysanthemum flowers in Bến Tre Province’s Chợ Lách District. – VNA/VNS Photo Huỳnh Phúc Hậu |
BẾN TRE – Farmers in Chợ Lách District, Bến Tre Province, are anticipating good profits from cultivating flowers and ornamental plants for the upcoming Tết (Lunar New Year) festival.
They are busy tending their plants in preparation for the festival, which falls on January 29, 2025.
Situated on the riverine Minh Island, with a dense network of rivers and canals and a mild climate, the district is the delta’s largest producer of seedlings, flowers and ornamental plants.
According to its People’s Committee, more than 10 million pots of flowers and ornamental plants are being cultivated for the festival, including roses, marigolds, chrysanthemums, paper flowers, yellow ochna flowers, and bonsai trees.
Nguyễn Quang Hưng, a farmer in Vĩnh Thành Commune, said his family has more than 150 yellow ochna trees, which are thriving due to favourable weather conditions.
“Unlike in previous years, when farmers had to wait for traders to place orders, I have already sold more than 40 yellow ochna trees in advance.”
They were sold to traders from the central region at an average price of VNĐ1.6–1.7 million (US$63–67) per tree.
Huỳnh Lan, also from Vĩnh Thành Commune, said her family had been growing yellow ochna trees for Tết for many years.
This year, she has cultivated around 100 Thủ Đức yellow ochna trees and is optimistic about a successful season.
Other flowers and ornamental plants were also being purchased in advance by traders.
Nguyễn Thị Hồng Thu, who has grown over 2,500 pots of chrysanthemums in Vĩnh Thành, said more than 80 per cent had already been sold to traders.
A pair of pots fetches VNĐ180,000 ($7), VNĐ15,000 more than a year ago.
According to farmers, favourable weather conditions have ensured that the quality and appearance of the flowers and ornamental plants meet buyers’ expectations.
In addition to selling their products to traders, many farmers are also increasing their sales through e-commerce platforms and social media.
According to Nguyễn Đức Minh, deputy chairman of the Chợ Lách People’s Committee, flower and ornamental plant cultivation has been a distinctive strength of the district for nearly a century.
The district produces some 20 million pots of flowers and ornamental plants annually.
For Tết this year, artisans are creating ornamental plants in the shapes of the 12 zodiac animals, with a special focus on snakes, the zodiac sign for 2025.
Farmers have also increased their use of high-quality seeds and seedlings to boost production efficiency.
The Bến Tre Centre for Seedlings, Flower and Ornamental Plants has provided 10,000 high-quality seedlings, mainly tissue-cultured chrysanthemum seedlings, to local farmers for Tết.
The number of households growing flowers and ornamental plants, and their output, has risen steadily in recent years, according to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The cultivation and trade of flowers and ornamental plants for Tết have become the primary source of income for many households and ensure stable livelihoods.
The province has 7,907 households engaged in this occupation, with Chợ Lách accounting for 6,421.
Farmers in Chợ Lách earned 20 - 30 per cent profits from selling flowers and ornamental plants for Tết last year, according to the district Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The district will host the Chợ Lách Flower and Ornamental Plant Festival from January 8 to 12.
The festival aims to showcase the district’s flowers, ornamental plants, culture, history, and landscapes to both domestic and international tourists while also promoting investment opportunities in the area. – VNS
