Dai Loc yellow apricot is worried about output

With less than a month until the Lunar New Year of the Dragon 2024, many apricot blossom growers in Dai Loc, Ham Hiep commune, Ham Thuan Bac district are waiting for the day to prune the leaves for sale. However, they are unhappy because this year's apricot blossom crop is poor and they worry about difficulty selling them due to the current economic difficulties.

Entrance to the apricot blossom village of Dai Loc hamlet

These days, visiting the apricot blossom gardens of households in Dai Loc village, Ham Hiep commune, Ham Thuan Bac district, a famous place for growing apricot blossoms for Tet in Binh Thuan province, many trees have already begun to bloom. The villagers are diligently watering the trees regularly every day, preparing for the leaf-pruning process before selling them for Tet. However, the atmosphere seems quieter than in previous years, as according to the gardeners, this year's apricot blossom harvest is poor. Mr. Nguyen Quang, one of the largest apricot blossom garden owners in Dai Loc, said that his family has over 1,000 apricot blossom trees. This year, many trees bloomed early due to it being a leap year, with bad weather, late rains, and frost drying out the flowers and branches. Currently, his family is closely monitoring and caring for the remaining apricot blossom trees that can be sold for Tet after leaf pruning around mid-December.

The apricot blossoms are blooming sporadically in the garden.

It's not just Mr. Quang's household; many other households growing apricot blossoms in the village share similar concerns. Furthermore, they worry that the market for apricot blossoms this Tet (Lunar New Year) will be sluggish due to the bleak economic situation in 2023... People are struggling to earn money, and the cost of living is high, forcing everyone to tighten their belts. "Life is getting harder, many people are unemployed... Many apricot blossom traders in the village have anticipated this and are hesitant to buy large quantities of apricot blossoms to cultivate and sell during Tet. Currently, most of the households here are long-time apricot blossom growers and potted apricot blossom traders. They supply the market hoping to sell as many trees as possible to cover their investment and care costs," shared Mr. Nguyen Van Hiep, a potted apricot blossom trader living not far from Mr. Quang's house.

The people diligently water the apricot blossom trees.

These concerns are not unfounded, but they are merely predictions. Whether the market for apricot blossoms will be sluggish or not will become clear at the upcoming Tet market. However, regardless of the circumstances, apricot blossoms will always be present in every family during the traditional Lunar New Year, as they symbolize the beginning of a new year filled with the best things, peace, good fortune, and success. Therefore, despite financial constraints, many people will carefully consider which type of apricot blossom to buy, large or small, to suit their budget or family's economic situation to decorate for Tet.

Mr. Nguyen Van Cuong, Vice Chairman of the Ham Hiep Commune People's Committee, said that it is impossible to assess the fluctuations of the Tet apricot blossom market at this time. People are focusing on caring for their apricot trees to ensure they are ready for the market. According to Mr. Cuong, Ham Hiep currently has 20 hectares of apricot trees, scattered among households. This crop provides a stable income for many households in the commune. Thanks to this stability, in recent years, dragon fruit cultivation has become less economically efficient, leading many households to switch to other crops, including apricot trees. However, the erratic weather in 2023 affected about 50% of the apricot tree area compared to previous years. Currently, people are monitoring which trees can be brought to market, while the rest are being nurtured for next year's Tet. They are calculating the timing for leaf removal so that the apricot blossoms bloom in time for Tet.

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