QUANG NAM – More than 45,000 pots of kumquats in Cam Ha commune, Hoi An city – the largest kumquat area in the Central region, are gradually ripening and ready to serve people on Tet holiday.
On the first day of 2022, people in the Cam Ha commune were busy transporting pots of kumquats laden with fruit from the garden to the street for sale. “There is still one month left until Tet, by then these fruits will ripen evenly,” said Mr. Nguyen Duc Thanh, 47 years old, Cam Ha commune.
Mr. Thanh planted more than 150 pots of kumquats to serve the Lunar New Year in 2022, halving compared to last year. “The Covid-19 epidemic lasted for a long time, so I didn’t dare to invest much,” he said.
Currently, Mr. Thanh’s kumquats are mostly ordered by traders from Quang Ngai and Quang Tri with prices ranging from 400,000 to 1 million VND per pot. They agreed to hand over on December 16 of the lunar calendar. During the consignment period, the owner of the kumquat garden is responsible for taking good care of the trees to keep them healthy and beautiful…
Mr. Thanh calculated, sold all the kumquats, and deducting investment costs, he earned 50 million dongs. “The price of kumquats is the same as last year while the price of fertilizer is high, so such an income is acceptable,” he said.
Unlike Mr. Thanh, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Lan, Cam Ha commune, planted nearly 500 pots in an area of nearly a hectare, kumquats are turning yellow, but traders have only ordered 200 plants. The remaining trees, she hopes to sell out before Tet to recover capital.
To invest in the above kumquats, Ms. Lan spent 300 million dongs, not counting the care work for a year. “The cheapest price of the tree is 300,000 VND, the tree is 3 million VND. Every year, at the end of October of the lunar calendar, traders from the central provinces and the Central Highlands flock to Cam Ha to order kumquats. But this year, near Tet, traders come here. chopping board”, she said, sharing her worry about the “not doing well”.
According to the experience of local people, if the kumquats do not sell out close to Tet, they will be pressured by traders. Moreover, this year traders also promised that if the epidemic situation leads to the blockade, they will cancel the contract. If this is the case, kumquat growers will have to find a place to sell them on their own.
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Duoc, Vice Chairman of Cam Ha Commune People’s Committee, said that the locality has nearly 500 households specializing in growing ornamental kumquats to sell on the occasion of the Lunar New Year. This year’s kumquat crop is expected to sell 45,000 pots, down 20,000 pots compared to last year.
“This is the Tet kumquat crop that growers face too many difficulties due to Covid-19. The reduction in output plus the increase in fertilizer costs, the price does not increase will affect their income”, Mr. Duoc said.
According to the leader of Cam Ha commune, this time last year more than 40% of kumquats were ordered by traders, but this year less than 30%. “Hoi An City has sent a document to neighboring localities asking to support people in the process of renting yards and transporting them for convenient consumption of kumquats. We will waive fees for sellers of flowers and ornamental plants. at this year’s spring flower festival”, Mr. Tuoc informed. Follow ( vnexpress)