VietNamNet Bridge – Weather conditions have been fluctuating in recent years, which have resulted in flower and fruit trees to bloom far ahead of Tet Lunar New Year Festival, leading to a predictable financial loss to farmers.

Farmers in Hanoi are worried of losses with their peach trees blossoming far too early. (Photo: SGGP)

Yellow apricot and peach blossom trees usually flower in spring or after Tet Festival is over and when weather turns warmer. However, this year they have already bloomed -- with Tet still a month away.
 
For instance, peach blossom trees were in full bloom two months ago in Muong Lat District in the north-central province of Thanh Hoa, as also in the northern provinces of Lao Cai, Son La and Dien Bien.

Since October last year, yellow apricot trees began to bloom in the central provinces of Thua Thien-Hue and Binh Dinh and some other provinces in the central highlands and southern regions. Flower growers said the weather was warmer in 2012 than earlier years, causing the early bloom.

Surprisingly, litchi and longan trees in the northern region, mango trees in the southern region and coffee plants in the central highlands have also flowered early.

Nguyen Dac Thanh, owner of a 12 hectare litchi farm in Luc Ngan District in Bac Giang Province, said that litchi trees have blossomed far ahead of Tet, a phenomenon seen in recent years. Earlier, they used to bud in spring when the weather was just beginning to turn warm.

Le Thanh Hai, deputy director of the National Hydro Meteorological Forecasting Center, said that winter of 2012 saw temperatures rise 1-4 degrees celsius higher than in previous years. The warmer and more humid weather caused flower and fruit trees to blossom early.

Nguyen Van Liem, an expert from the National Institute of Meteorological Research, said that authorized organs should conduct more studies on climate change to better forecast agricultural production.

Source: SGGP