Mrs. Nguyen Thi Huong and Mr. Nguyen Van Nghi (residing in Kim Hoa commune, Me Linh district, Hanoi) are one of the households that grow the most peach trees in Phu Tri village, Kim Hoa commune, Me Linh district. With about 1,000 wild peach trees and pine-covered peach trees on an area of over 5 hectares, Mrs. Huong had to take care of them for 3 years.
In addition, 2 hectares of squash and other vegetables that were about to be harvested were wiped out after the recent flood. The total damage is estimated at more than 3 billion VND.
Despite having experience from previous floods, Ms. Huong's family still could not withstand this year's flood.
“In just a few hours, the flood water rose to the navel of an adult, and the excavator could not operate. After 3 years of 2 floods like this, the damage to my family is too great!” - Ms. Huong shared.
According to Ms. Huong, the price of a wild peach tree is about 5-7 million VND. Previously, traders came to buy about 30 peach trees and deposited 30 million VND, just waiting for the day to take them away. This year's peach blossom season, her family plans to sell about 500 trees. With 2 hectares of squash at 10,000 VND/kg, Ms. Huong calculated that she would have a bumper crop of flowers and vegetables. On September 11, all of her family's hopes were swept away by the flood.
“It’s already good that there is a company that comes to deal with dead trees, I don’t dare take their money. There are too many dead trees, my family doesn’t know how to handle them. My family really hopes to receive attention and help from the State and local authorities,” Ms. Huong shared.
Mr. Nguyen Trung Hieu - Head of Phu Tri village, Kim Hoa commune - said that Phu Tri village currently has 1,230 households, more than 6,000 people. The number of households growing peach blossoms is up to 80%. After the recent storm No. 3, Phu Tri village and 3 villages in Kim Hoa commune were severely affected. The area of peach blossom and vegetable growing land of the people was submerged by floodwaters, about 45 hectares.
"We have reported to the commune leaders to have a plan to handle and support people affected by floods," Mr. Hieu informed.
In order to restore production and ensure people's lives as quickly and effectively as possible, without any passive or unexpected situations, Chairman of Me Linh District People's Committee Hoang Anh Tuan has requested heads of departments, branches, sectors, units under the district, relevant units located in the area and Chairmen of People's Committees of communes and towns to urgently implement many contents. In particular, Chairman of Me Linh District People's Committee requested to concentrate forces and means to overcome and restore production, pump out water, tie up and save rice crops; review, evaluate, count and support damages according to regulations; develop plans to increase winter crop production to compensate for damaged areas and vegetables of the summer crop.
