Delayed implementation of policies to support flower growers in Hung Dong.

(Baonghean)Although the high-quality flower cultivation project in Hung Dong has been approved, more than two years have passed and high-quality flower growers in Vinh City have still not received the full amount of support as per the project...

Ms. Tran Thi Thinh, from Trung My village, Hung Dong commune, who has been involved in flower cultivation for 20 years, shared: “Since 2009, we have been dedicated to growing high-quality flowers. However, orchid and chrysanthemum varieties are very rare, and we have to go all the way to Hanoi and Nam Dinh to buy the seeds. Many years, even when we manage to buy the seeds, the planting season is delayed. Besides, flower prices depend on the market. Lily bulbs cost 26,000 VND each, but when the weather is favorable, they can fetch 50,000 VND per plant, sometimes only 5,000-7,000 VND per plant. Chrysanthemum seedlings cost 1,500 VND each, but they sell for an average of 3,000-5,000 VND per plant.” According to Ms. Thinh, for nearly three years now, although her family has completed the application for support, they have not yet received the money.



Farmers in Hung Dong have a desire to remain committed to flower cultivation.

To ensure the successful cultivation of high-quality flowers, Mr. Tran Ngoc Quyet's family invested over 50 million VND in building a greenhouse (with modern pipes) to protect seedlings, improving the soil, and designing a suitable electricity and water system. However, his family's flower cultivation has stalled. According to him, growing high-quality flowers is difficult due to the availability of seeds, timing, and techniques, and is prone to risks. Furthermore, since 2010, the city's support mechanism has not been implemented, leading not only him but also other flower growers to lose interest in investing in these types of flowers.

Investigating the cause, it was learned that since 2009, through surveys on high-quality flower cultivation in Vinh City and the surrounding area, flower growers there have been introduced to the "Production of High-Quality, Disease-Free Chrysanthemum Seedlings" Project. This project, implemented by the Department of Planning and Investment (originating from the Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology), aimed to replace old chrysanthemum varieties susceptible to diseases, caterpillars, and leaf miners in the three major flower-growing hamlets of Hung Dong: Trung My, Yen Xa, and Yen Vinh. The local people benefited 40% from the project. The project's scope included providing 10,000 seedlings to the farmers, which were then distributed to three large flower-growing households in Hung Dong to supply 105 households.

The project encouraged and motivated the movement to grow high-quality flowers among the local people. In 2010, the Vinh City People's Committee issued Decision 1256/QDUB.TPV, which provided support covering 25% of the cost of flower seeds and 20% of the cost of bio-fertilizers and pesticides. Mr. Pham Van Thanh, Head of the Agriculture Department of Hung Dong commune, said: According to calculations by flower growers, by the end of 2010, the entire commune had completed the compilation of documents with a total support amount of 87 million VND for high-quality flower cultivation based on the City People's Committee's Decision. This figure does not include the tens of millions of VND that the farmers spent on purchasing invoices for the project's acceptance. However, to date, Hung Dong flower growers have only received the first installment of support, amounting to 9 million VND. The commune has repeatedly submitted the farmers' concerns to the City People's Committee, but has yet to receive a response.

According to Mr. Tran Van Son, Head of the Finance and Planning Department of Vinh City, "The project, with a plan to plant 20 hectares of high-quality flowers, received 80 million VND in support from the city, with 4 million VND per hectare. However, only 8.3 hectares were actually planted. The reason for the delay in payment is that the commune only conducted on-site inspections but did not inspect each household individually, only conducting a general inspection. Therefore, the city lacked the basis to pay each household."

I believe the City People's Committee and relevant departments need to review and implement the policy promptly to help flower growers in Hung Dong have the conditions to invest and turn this flower growing area into a major flower and ornamental plant hub of the city.