Care costs increased by 15%
As Tet is approaching, Mr. Pham Thanh Phong - a mai gardener in Can Tho City - is taking extra care so that his family's Tet mai trees can bloom in time to supply the market.
Compared to last year, Mr. Phong estimated that the investment cost for the apricot garden could be about 15% higher due to the increase in agricultural material prices. Labor costs have not increased but account for the majority of annual care costs. Workers who pick apricot leaves are paid 250,000 VND/person/day, and those who shape the apricot trees are paid 500,000 VND/person/day.
“With nearly 100 large and small apricot trees, I have to hire workers to pick leaves, bend branches, and shape the trees... with a total cost of 15-20 million VND. Although I sell them all year round, this is the peak season and the apricot trees sell best, so I have to take good care of them, especially when this year's weather has had unseasonal rains, causing some trees to bloom early,” said Mr. Phong.
Since the beginning of December, Mr. Truong Minh Hien - a mai gardener in Vinh Long province - has hired workers to pick leaves and gradually shape his family's mai garden. Taking care of about 200 mai trees, Mr. Hien estimated that the cost of hiring workers could be up to nearly 40 million VND.
The cost is high, but this gardener believes that this is the amount of money that needs to be invested. Because each step of caring for the apricot tree must be done within a certain period of time. If delayed, the apricot tree will not be of good quality.
“The labor force I hire is mainly local people. Picking mai leaves usually takes about 3-4 days with a labor cost of 250,000 VND/person/day. After picking the leaves, while the branches are still soft, the mai tree must be bent to shape immediately. The labor cost for this job is usually from 500,000 - 600,000 VND/person/day. At the end of the mai season, I also have to hire people to pick the fruit at a rate of 250,000 VND/person/day so that the tree does not weaken,” said Mr. Hien.
Expecting a bumper Tet season
Currently, gardeners are busy with the final care to ensure the apricot blossoms bloom on time, serving people during Tet. Everyone hopes that the efforts will bring a bumper crop of apricot blossoms for Tet.
Mr. Phong shared that traders are increasingly cautious in buying mai trees, mostly waiting until the trees bud. If not properly cared for, mai trees with few buds or blooming before Tet will be abandoned by traders or sold at a reduced price.
“Hopefully, with the investment in care, the apricot trees will have a beautiful shape, many buds, and bloom right on Tet holiday to sell for a high price. Taking care of the apricot garden all year round is what we gardeners look forward to the most,” Mr. Phong confided.
Sharing the same wish, Mr. Hien expressed: “Tet is approaching, the time that I and other apricot gardeners look forward to the most is coming. Hopefully from now until Tet, the weather will be favorable for the apricot to grow well, the buds will grow evenly and bloom beautifully so that we can sell more apricots and have a more prosperous Tet.”
