Flower garden of the West
As the Lunar New Year approaches, Sa Dec flower village (Sa Dec city, Dong Thap province) seems to be wearing a new, colorful coat. The atmosphere here becomes more bustling than ever, as households are busy taking care of and trimming each flower bed and each bonsai pot to prepare for a bumper crop.
With a tradition of growing flowers for more than a century, Sa Dec flower village is known as the place where the largest flower fields in the Southwest region, even the largest in the whole country, are concentrated. It is estimated that the flower growing area here is up to thousands of hectares, mainly concentrated in Tan Khanh Dong commune (324 hectares) and Tan Quy Dong ward (320 hectares). Thanks to the diligent care of the people, the flower fields stretch out endlessly, competing to show off their colors.
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| Sa Dec flower village, Dong Thap province (Photo: Minh Anh) |
The characteristic of Sa Dec flower village is the cultivation of flowers on high trellises above the rice fields. This method of cultivation not only takes advantage of the area but also facilitates irrigation and transportation. Thanks to this, the flowers are always fresh and of high quality.
Sa Dec flower village's products are very diverse, with about 2,000 types of flowers and ornamental plants; of which, ornamental plants for construction and interior decoration account for 65%, flowers of all kinds are 20%, and bonsai ancient ornamental plants are 15%. Popular flowers are chrysanthemums, forget-me-nots, sunflowers, primroses, gerberas, lisianthus, periwinkle, peonies, orchids of all kinds... Meanwhile, ornamental planting is also very developed, creating high income for many flower gardens, especially yellow apricot flowers, ornamental leaves, bonsai ancient ornamental plants...
Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai, a veteran bonsai artist in Sa Dec, said: “ Since childhood, I have been fascinated by strange and unique tree shapes. Later, with the people in Tan My hamlet, I started growing flowers, ornamental plants, and bonsai. My bonsai works are quite popular with many customers , because they are lively and imbued with the soul of the countryside. In addition to the economic value, for a gardener like me, being able to see bonsai trees that I have taken care of myself is also a source of happiness .”
Not only playing a role in production, Sa Dec flower village also actively contributes to the socio-economic development of the locality. With more than 4,000 households producing flowers and ornamental plants, accounting for about 50% of agricultural households in the city; more than 200 flower and ornamental plant businesses contribute to creating jobs for tens of thousands of workers here.
Up to now, Sa Dec has 4 cooperatives, 1 credit fund, 10 cooperative groups and 3 guilds operating related to the flower and ornamental plant industry.
Busy for Tet
Currently, according to gardeners, the demand for buying ornamental flowers in the days leading up to Lunar New Year is increasing significantly, about 30% higher than usual. Customers who come to buy are mostly local people, neighboring areas, mixed with people from other provinces and cities.
On Tet holiday, customers usually choose traditional flowers such as chrysanthemums, Taiwan chrysanthemums, marigolds, sunflowers, gerbera daisies, kumquats, colorful foliage plants, ornamental foliage plants, roses, and carnations. Notably, with strong purchasing power, some gardens of chrysanthemums blooming right on Tet have been booked out by customers and traders. Depending on the size of the pot and the number of flowers, the selling price ranges from 160,000 VND - 260,000 VND/pair, an increase of about 10% compared to last year.
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| Farmers in the flower village pack ornamental flowers to prepare for trading with traders (Photo: Minh Anh) |
It is expected that this Tet, the total output of ornamental flowers that Sa Dec flower village supplies to the market will reach about 2 million baskets.
In addition to the advantages of "heavenly time and favorable terrain", Sa Dec flower village also strives to be self-reliant, diligently taking care of each flower bed to create brilliant products that shine everywhere. Ms. Huong (37 years old, owner of a flower household in Tan Quy Dong) shared: " To have beautiful chrysanthemum pots, we have to be meticulous in every step, from choosing seeds, preparing soil, watering to fertilizing and preventing pests. In particular, the flowering stage is the most important. We have to watch the time so that the flowers bloom in time for Tet, the colors must be very fresh. My family's chrysanthemums are mainly ordered by traders from the North and Central regions. They really like Sa Dec chrysanthemums because the flowers are beautiful, big and durable."
Mr. Nguyen Van Ba, a trader from Da Nang City, told a reporter from the Industry and Trade Newspaper: “ This year, the prices of chrysanthemums of all kinds, such as raspberry chrysanthemums and large chrysanthemums, have increased by about 10-15% compared to last year. Chrysanthemums with unique colors and strange shapes have even higher prices. The increase in flower prices has also significantly affected our business. To ensure profits, we have to consider carefully when importing goods. But in general, compared to other types of flowers such as roses, lilies, etc., chrysanthemum prices are still more stable .”
Explaining the reason for this year’s price increase, many households attributed it mainly to increased production costs. Although the substrate (straw fertilizer) has stabilized, the price of agricultural materials such as fertilizers and pesticides has increased. The weather is also unfavorable because when the plants are still young, there is a lot of rain, which affects the growth and development of some types of flowers that are “sensitive” to water.
Not only enriching the domestic market, Sa Dec ornamental flowers also reach out to the international market, becoming the main export product of Dong Thap province. Neighboring countries such as Cambodia, Laos, and China all favor the unique and high-quality ornamental flower products from Sa Dec.
According to information from the People's Committee of Sa Dec city, the value of ornamental flower production is estimated at over 1,800 billion/year and accounts for about 70% of the city's agricultural production value. Every year, this place supplies the domestic market and exports more than 30 million flower baskets of all kinds. For the people, this is not only a continuation of the work of their ancestors for hundreds of years but also a way to create a prosperous and happy life. |
Source: https://congthuong.vn/lang-hoa-sa-dec-nuc-tieng-mien-tay-hoi-ha-vao-vu-tet-367813.html
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