VietNamNet Bridge – Unusual weather has been blamed for the early flowering of lilies in Tay Tuu Village, the biggest flower farm in Hanoi, in the run up to Tet (Lunar New Year).

Many lily growers in Tay Tuu Village have to harvest flowers early due to the unstable weather conditions. — Photo dantri.com.vn

For the past few years, lilies have brought success for growers, but this year many farmers have seen their profits wither, Dân Trí online newspaper reported.

A local flower farmer said many have to cut the flowers early and sell them at a lower rate.

Nam, a gardener, said he grew four sao (equivalent to 360sq.m) of lilies for Tet, but now he had to hire workers to cut them because they bloomed early.

According to preliminary calculations, he lost about VND30 million (US$1,300) for each sao.

“I mortgaged my house. How can I have a happy Tet?” Nam said.

Compared to many other flowers, lilies are expensive and hard to take care of.

Growers have to invest a lot of time and money, but unstable weather can cause losses of up to VND200-300 million a year, the newspaper reported.

Thuan, another farmer who had to harvest lilies early, said she may avoid planting the flowers next year due to increasingly unpredictable weather.

“Next year, I will plant roses or daisies instead of lilies. Those flowers are cheaper but less risky than lilies,” she said.

The cool weather in northern Vietnam in winter was a big advantage for lily farmers, she said, adding that climate change has greatly affected the cultivation of the flowers.

In the past few years, many families have hired land in neigbouring areas to grow lilies, but now many of them are quitting their jobs and returning the land, local residents said.

Source: VNS