High demand amidst crop scarcity

Dong Trieu City, the hub of Tet ornamental plants in Quang Ninh, boasts over 330 hectares of peach blossoms, kumquats, and flowers, with Binh Khe Ward accounting for the largest cultivation area. Farmers in the region are working tirelessly to prepare their plants for delivery in time for the Lunar New Year.

The aftermath of Typhoon No. 3 in September has left many ornamental peach and kumquat gardens damaged, leading to a supply shortage. As a result, traders from across the country are actively visiting growers to secure orders, often offering higher prices to lock in inventory.

Nguyen Cong Tinh, a farmer in Binh Khe, said his garden has about 400 peach trees for the Tet market. Despite losing half of his crop to the storm, the remaining trees are receiving meticulous care.

“About two weeks ago, traders came with cash deposits to buy my entire garden at a price higher than last year because of the scarcity,” Tinh shared. “Now, my job is to ensure the flowers bloom beautifully and on time for delivery.”

Ornamental peach trees for lease

Next to Tinh’s farm is a garden of large, ornamental peach trees owned by Nguyen Van Khang. With nearly 300 trees, Khang offers them for lease instead of sale, with prices ranging from 3 to 30 million VND per tree per month.

“These days, I’m working on preparing the buds. In about two weeks, they’ll be ready, and by Tet, the flowers will bloom perfectly for my clients,” Khang said.

He noted that the erratic weather this year has made tree care more labor-intensive, requiring close monitoring to ensure the blossoms bloom on schedule.

Despite the higher prices this year, Khang is maintaining his rates for loyal customers, including businesses and organizations that have consistently rented his trees for years.

Kumquat trees in high demand

Kumquat farmers in Dong Trieu are also experiencing unprecedented demand. Every day, traders visit farms to place orders, with some seeking to buy entire gardens.

Kumquat prices this year range from 1 to 1.3 million VND for trees around 2 meters tall and approximately 600,000 VND for smaller trees.

Le Kha Long, a kumquat farmer with over 300 trees, is choosing to sell his crop individually rather than in bulk to maximize profits.

“Prices are higher this year, so I prefer selling retail. Many neighbors sold their trees nearly a month ago,” Long explained.

Strong demand keeps traders busy
According to the Economic Department of Dong Trieu City, the area has exceeded its planned 259 hectares of flowers and ornamental plants, reaching over 330 hectares due to high farmer participation.

Unlike in previous years, when bumper crops often resulted in low prices, traders have secured most of the available inventory, ensuring stable prices and robust demand as Tet approaches.

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