Ornamental flower growers in the Mekong Delta are able to maintain usual business. — Photo courtesy of sggp.org.vn

HCM CITY — Farmers in the “flower capital” of the Mekong Delta are busy growing flowers along with long-term plants for the upcoming Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday.

Trần Văn Tiếp, chairman of the “I love purple” club in Sa Đéc City in Đồng Tháp Province, said that despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, 20 members of the club have been focusing on  growing flowers such as raspberry chrysanthemum, Taiwanese chrysanthemum, marigold, and dahlia for Tết.

The club aims to produce 40,000 pots of flowers, down 50 per cent compared to previous years.

In Phước Định yellow apricot village in Vĩnh Long Province and Chợ Lách flower village in Bến Tre Province, gardeners are speeding up the production of Tết flowers.

Lê Văn Tý, director of Phước Định apricot village cooperative, said that the craft village was producing 550 ancient apricot trees, 4,000 mid-sized apricot trees and 25,000 small-sized apricot trees, together with 2,500 other ornamental plants. 

Nguyễn Thị Ngọc, head of Economic Department of Sa Đéc City in Đồng Tháp, said the city currently has about 697 hectares of ornamental flower area. 

People in the “flower capital” of Sa Đéc City grow flowers all year round for special occasions and tourism purposes. 

“In addition to existing markets, gardeners have expanded the online ornamental flower markets. With the help of Sa Đéc City in finding more outputs for local ornamental flowers, gardeners’ businesses have been more secure,” she said.

In Bến Tre, head of Agriculture and Rural Development Department of Chợ Lách District, said that ornamental flower growers have been able to maintain usual business.

Due to the impact of COVID-19, they have put less emphasis on marigolds, crested flowers and chrysanthemums and more focus on long-term plants.

Thanks to the diversity, the market is expected to be stable during the upcoming Tết flower season. — VNS