Mr. Loi paints the flower pots to enhance their aesthetic appeal and sell them at a higher price.

The winding inter-village road meanders through rice paddies that have already been sown, bathed in warm sunlight. Phu Ho is a purely agricultural commune, with 95% of its residents making a living from rice farming. Surprisingly, upon reaching the middle of Su Lo village, we encountered a vast chrysanthemum garden. The pots of chrysanthemums were lush and green, so large that it would take two arms to encircle them. Mr. Bui Vinh Phu, Chairman of the Phu Ho Commune Farmers' Association, enthusiastically said: "Seeing a chrysanthemum garden like this makes us feel the warmth and prosperity of Tet. This is the result of the hard work and ingenuity of Mr. Nguyen Van Loi – a prime example of someone who has become wealthy from chrysanthemum cultivation."

While diligently tending to his chrysanthemums, Mr. Loi beamed, "showing off" that the largest and most beautiful chrysanthemum pots would cost around 5 million VND per pair; every year, several organizations in Hue City place orders for them. "I've been growing chrysanthemums for 13 years, planting about 1,000 pots each year. Building a multi-million dollar house, buying land, and enjoying a better life are all thanks to chrysanthemums," Mr. Loi confided.

Before venturing into chrysanthemum cultivation, Mr. Loi worked many jobs to make a living: rice farming, cattle raising, pig farming, coffee selling, and electronic component repair. He worked tirelessly year-round, barely enough to cover his living expenses. Driven by a desire to prosper in his homeland, Mr. Loi thoroughly researched the subject and decided to start chrysanthemum cultivation with a friend. Mr. Loi provided the capital, while his friend ensured the technical expertise. Through diligent learning and hard work, Mr. Loi gained valuable experience and grew increasingly passionate about the profession. Therefore, when his friend switched to another field, Mr. Loi confidently continued his successful chrysanthemum harvests alone.

“To achieve the best results, you must be fully committed to every step of the care process. From the very beginning, the soil preparation process (3 months) is one of the most important technical steps. You must master the ratios for mixing rice husks, phosphorus fertilizer, other fertilizers, lime, etc., loosening the soil, and re-composting it to create loose, porous soil, neutralize acidity and alkalinity, eliminate toxic fungi and harmful insects, and increase nutrients for the plants,” Mr. Loi shared about the process and methods for growing chrysanthemums effectively.

After preparing the soil, Mr. Loi immediately "rolled up his sleeves" to mold the pots. From the time the seedlings are placed in the pots until they are ready for sale takes 6 months. During this time, the grower must closely monitor the plants, water them, prune the flower buds, leaving only the right number to allow the flowers to grow as large as possible, and use stakes to shape the pots, making them round and sturdy to support the plants… “Without technique, how can the flowers be beautiful? If you plant them without stakes, each pot of flowers will only sell for half the price. Other localities grow a lot of chrysanthemums, but those who understand the techniques better can create more beautiful, aesthetically pleasing pots, so the price is higher and they are chosen by enthusiasts,” Mr. Loi said.

Thanks to his solid technical skills, Mr. Loi always has a successful flower crop. 1,000 pots of chrysanthemums yield a net profit of approximately 150 million VND per year. Being from a rice-farming background, even with chrysanthemum cultivation, Mr. Loi still sticks to his rice fields. Cultivating one acre of rice paddies, he grows two crops a year, providing for his family's needs and earning a net profit of around 30 million VND.

The Chairman of the Phu Ho Commune Farmers' Association said that he was very proud that Mr. Loi had received numerous Certificates of Commendation from the Hue City Farmers' Association. Even more commendable is that over the years, Mr. Loi has always been willing and dedicated to sharing his technical experience with chrysanthemum growers both within and outside the locality. When he took on the role of Head of the Chrysanthemum Growing Model Professional Association in the commune, Mr. Loi further enhanced his leadership role, connecting and sharing experiences with members, helping each other develop their businesses effectively.

Text and photos: QUYNH ANH