Many difficulties for Tet flower growers

(Baonghean) -Hundreds of households growing flowers for the 2012 Lunar New Year in Nghi An, Hung Dong, and Nghi Lien communes (Vinh City) are in a state of anxiety due to unusual weather, pests, and high prices of flower seeds and fertilizers.

Kim Chi, Kim Phuc (Nghi An commune), Trung My (Hung Dong commune), and Hamlet 4 (Nghi Lien commune) in Vinh City are villages with a tradition of growing flowers and ornamental plants for more than 15 years. In December 2010, the above 4 villages were recognized by the Provincial People's Committee as flower and ornamental plant growing craft villages. These craft villages have attracted thousands of workers. Like Kim Chi and Kim Phuc villages, the production value of flowers and ornamental plants accounts for more than 60% of the total income of the village. Thanks to flowers, hundreds of households have been fortunate to escape poverty.

As in previous years, up to this point, the flower gardens are growing well, to bloom in time to serve the Tet market. However, currently, hundreds of flower-growing households are facing difficulties and worries. Tens of thousands of flower plants that should be in the growing period are wilting, lacking vitality, and stunted, causing many households to “lose sleep and appetite”.

Since the beginning of the ninth lunar month, households have had to go all the way to Hanoi to buy flower seeds to plant. In the villages, chrysanthemums are mainly grown, while some households with the means also grow lilies, pansies, etc. However, according to the flower growers, flower seeds are difficult to buy this year and the price has doubled compared to last year, but the quality of flower seeds is not guaranteed. Mr. Nguyen Duc Hai, a flower grower in Kim Chi village, explained: “When they asked for double the price compared to last year, we were shocked. For example, my family bought 10,000 chrysanthemum seeds, which cost only 2 million VND last year, but this year it cost 4 million VND.” Sharing the same concern about seeds, Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong, a flower grower in Trung My village, said: “When we bought the seeds, we realized that the quality of the seeds was not commensurate with the money we spent. The roots of the plants were broken, the tops were broken, and there were pests and diseases, wilting, etc. And because we take a little at a time, the flower batches in the garden are not even, so we are afraid that they will not bloom on time in the future.”

Mr. Nguyen Duc Hai, in Kim Chi village (Nghi An commune)
taking care of flowers for Tet

Mr. Hai also added: "Not only have the prices of flower seeds increased, but the prices of materials such as biofertilizers, microbial fertilizers, and pesticides have also increased. The input costs have increased by 30% compared to the same period last year." Mr. Hai's family grows more than 400 square meters of chrysanthemums. On average, after deducting all expenses for each Tet flower crop, his family still makes a profit of about 25 million VND/year. But this year's flower crop, Mr. Hai is very worried that "he might lose money".

Ms. Tran Thi Ngo, a flower grower in Kim Chi village, said: “Since the beginning of September, it has rained a lot, so the land is always flooded, many flower plants are rotten and broken. Moreover, because of the heavy rain, the plants are stunted and grow very slowly.” According to the people of Kim Chi village, the drainage ditch has been blocked at one end for a long time, and every time it rains, the water cannot drain in time, causing nearly 10 hectares of flowers to be submerged in water. Many flower growing areas have wilted and rotted due to being soaked in water and then exposed to the sun. Faced with this situation, some households have raised the garden floor and switched to growing flowers, while flower growing areas in the fields have been switched to growing vegetables. However, because they are grown in the garden, the flowers are often shaded and lack light, leading to poor growth.

To keep the flowers warm and stimulate their growth, households have had to light them up with electric lights. But the electricity is always unstable. We have called the authorities many times, but the situation has not improved much. Flowers without light do not look fresh. If they do not grow evenly, they will not bloom on time,” Ms. Ngo added. Moreover, because the plants have to be lit for a long time, the amount of electricity consumed is very large. According to Ms. Ngo’s calculations, if the weather is like now, on average, each sao of flower growing will consume more than 100kw of electricity from planting to harvesting.

Discussing the above issues, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Truc, Vice Chairman of Nghi An Commune People's Committee, said: Currently, due to the incomplete traffic system, irrigation system, electricity, and product consumption market, the development orientation of the two flower villages in the commune is facing many difficulties, affecting the production of the people. The commune is trying to quickly overcome these limitations so that the two craft villages of Kim Chi and Kim Phuc can develop. In the near future, in the new rural planning, the commune plans to build a market near the two craft villages so that flower growers can trade when Tet comes.

Pham Bang