VietNamNet Bridge - To improve the value of rice and maize, a 45-year-old farmer in the southern province of Dong Nai has turned them into ornamental plants for display at Tet (lunar New Year). The products are sold at high prices and the demand is always over supply.

One creative farmer is Mr. Ngo Van Son, in Vinh Hiep Hamlet, Tan Binh Commune, Vinh Cuu District, Dong Nai Province.

"The farmers always think that a prosperous New Year is having full baskets of rice in their home and a good job that is as firm as corncobs. The townsmen wish the New Year of peace and happiness and prosperity,so I make these products to serve the market," Son said.

Son said after two months, the rice trees he planted in big vases will ripen. He will then stick a pink ribbon on the trees and move them into ceramic pots for sale.

“Each ornamental rice pot I seed has only eight grains. The price for each pot is over VND100,000 (nearly $5). Hundreds of rice pots in the garden have been ordered," he said.

Each pot of ornamental corn has three trees, symbolizing solidity.

After three months, the corn plants in pots will blossom and yield fruit. "By the 1st day of the lunar year, the trees will begin blooming in pink, the color of luck," the farmer said.

He said 1kg of rice seeds is priced VND7,000, enough for 200 pots of ornamental rice. The price for corn seeds is higher but 1kg of seeds can make 80 pots, which are priced over VND100,000/pot.

"The value of 100 pots of rice for Tet is equivalent to earning from 5,000sq.m of commercial rice," Son added.

Along with ornamental rice and corn for the Tet market, this farmer also plants yellow melons on 1,000 m2. However, Son’s melons are special because they have the shape of wine gourds, gold bullions and hearts.

A pair of yellow melons is priced from VND1 million ($50) to VND3.5 million ($170).

This creative farmer also owns two hectares of grapefruit and oranges, which are also in odd shapes.

He said this Tet he will supply the market with 500 grapefruits in the shape of gold bullions or “good fortune” letters on the peel, priced from VND800,000 to VND1.2 million ($40-$55).

All of these special products have been fully booked by customers from Hanoi, HCM City and Bien Hoa City.