Celebrating the art of growing ornamental kumquat trees.
Artisan Nguyen Hao (from Hoi An Tay ward) gently adjusts each cluster of fruit on his kumquat bonsai tree before welcoming locals and tourists to admire it. The plump, round, golden kumquats gleam in the afternoon sun, symbolizing hopes for a bountiful and fulfilling spring.
Having been involved in the profession for over 20 years and participating in the Cam Ha kumquat tree festival for nearly 10 years, for Mr. Nguyen Hao, the event is not only an opportunity for his kumquat trees to "compete" with the most beautiful works in the ward, but also a chance to introduce his products and connect with customers.
"The job of growing kumquat trees is hard work, but it also brings income and a lot of joy, especially when I see my 'creations' being praised and photographed by people," Mr. Hao shared. This year, his garden has nearly 500 kumquat trees in pots; so far, traders have ordered nearly 300 pots, with prices quite good compared to last year.
Held annually, this year's Cam Ha kumquat tree festival attracted nearly 30 artisans with over 100 kumquat trees of various sizes and shapes, many of them quite impressive. At the festival, visitors not only admired the beauty of the kumquat trees and characteristic OCOP products but also immersed themselves in a vibrant cultural atmosphere; experienced "Flavors of Spring" cuisine , participated in traditional Bài Chòi folk singing, and enjoyed drinks made from kumquat fruit…
According to Ms. Le Thi Hong Thao, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hoi An Tay ward, besides honoring the ornamental kumquat cultivation profession, the festival is also an opportunity to promote the image, economic potential, and cultural identity of the locality.
Integrating the art of kumquat cultivation with tourism.
Over the years, the cultivation of ornamental kumquat trees in Hoi An Tay ward has been consistently maintained and developed. Kumquat growers continuously improve the quality of their products to meet consumer demands. The Cam Ha ornamental kumquat brand continues to expand, with its market growing ever wider.
Besides growing kumquat trees for ornamental purposes during Tet (Lunar New Year), the village has also implemented a model of growing kumquat trees for fruit production using clean, organic methods, and this has initially proven effective. Many products made from kumquats, such as kumquat jam, kumquat preserves, kumquat wine, and various beverages, are processed in diverse and high-quality ways.
According to Mr. Nguyen Kim (Dong Na residential group, Hoi An Tay ward), the kumquat cultivation profession in Cam Ha in particular and Hoi An Tay ward in general has been established and developed for more than a century.
“Previously, kumquat trees were mainly grown for their fruit, which was used to make refreshing drinks and jam for Tet (Lunar New Year). After 1975, realizing that ripe kumquats had beautiful shapes, people began to put the trees in pots and shape them for decoration in their homes every spring. Initially, it was just medium and small pots, but then the number gradually increased, with larger pots and more shaped kumquat trees, gradually developing into the ornamental kumquat tree industry as it is today,” Mr. Kim recounted.
To cultivate kumquat trees laden with plump, juicy fruit, growers must go through many meticulous steps, from selecting the variety, preparing the soil, fertilizing, pruning, shaping, to inducing flowering, fruiting, and watering. A beautiful kumquat tree is not only about its shape but also about meeting criteria such as a mix of ripe yellow and green fruit, with both flowers and new shoots, creating a feeling of abundance and prosperity for Tet (Vietnamese New Year).
On December 4, 2023, the cultivation of ornamental kumquat trees in Cam Ha was recognized as a provincial-level traditional craft, further affirming the unique cultural imprint of the land and people of Hoi An Tay ward.
According to Ms. Le Thi Hong Thao, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hoi An Tay ward, based on the values of the traditional craft village and the widespread impact of the festival, the locality will focus on improving the quality and aesthetic value of kumquat trees in the future; gradually developing a model of growing kumquats in organic soil, creating clean products from kumquat fruit.
At the same time, the ward will strengthen linkages between orchards to develop agricultural tourism products such as visiting kumquat orchards, experiencing the process of planting and caring for ornamental kumquat trees, directly processing products from kumquats, etc., thereby contributing to enhancing the value chain of ornamental kumquat trees in the area.
Source: https://baodanang.vn/diem-hen-quat-canh-cam-ha-3322132.html
