Dai Loc yellow apricot is worried about output

With less than a month to go until the Lunar New Year 2024, many mai gardeners in Dai Loc, Ham Hiep commune, Ham Thuan Bac district are waiting for the day to pick leaves to sell for Tet. However, they are not happy because this year's mai crop is bad and they are worried about having difficulty selling because the general economy is difficult.

Entrance gate to Mai village, Dai Loc hamlet

These days, in the apricot gardens of households in Dai Loc village, Ham Hiep commune, Ham Thuan Bac district, a famous place for growing Tet apricot trees in Binh Thuan , many trees have bloomed. People are diligently watering the apricot trees regularly every day, in preparation for the day of picking leaves to bring to the Tet market. But the atmosphere seems calmer than previous years, because according to the apricot gardeners this year's crop was poor. Mr. Nguyen Quang, one of the owners of the largest apricot garden in Dai Loc, said that his family has more than 1,000 apricot trees, this year many trees bloomed early because it is a leap year, bad weather, late rain, frost drying the flowers and branches. Currently, his family is closely monitoring and taking care of the remaining apricot trees that can be brought to the Tet market, after picking leaves around mid-December.

Apricot flowers are blooming in the garden.

Not only Mr. Quang's household but many other mai growers in the village also shared similar concerns. In addition, they are also worried that the mai market for Tet this year will be bleak because the economic situation in 2023 is not bright... People find it difficult to make money but the cost of living is high, everyone has to tighten their belts. "Life is getting more and more difficult, many people are unemployed... Many mai traders in the village have foreseen this so they do not dare to buy many mai trees to take care of and sell for Tet. Currently, there are mainly households growing mai trees for many years and trading in potted mai trees. They will supply the market with the hope of selling each tree or each tree to cover the investment and care costs," said Mr. Nguyen Van Hiep, a potted mai trader, not far from Mr. Quang's house.

People diligently water the apricot flowers

These concerns are not without basis, but they are just predictions. Whether the Tet apricot market will be quiet or not will be clear in the next Tet market. However, no matter what happens, Tet apricot is always present in every family during the traditional Lunar New Year, because it symbolizes the beginning of a new year with the best things, peace, luck, and success. Therefore, despite difficulties and tight spending, many people will still consider which type of apricot to buy, big or small, to fit their budget or family economy to decorate for Tet.

Mr. Nguyen Van Cuong, Vice Chairman of Ham Hiep Commune People's Committee, said that at this time, it is impossible to assess the fluctuations of the Tet apricot market. People should monitor and take good care of the apricot to serve the market. According to Mr. Cuong, Ham Hiep currently has 20 hectares of apricot, scattered among households. This is a crop that brings stable income to many households in the commune. Thanks to that stability, in recent years, dragon fruit trees have been less economically efficient, many households have switched to other crops, including apricot trees. However, in 2023, the erratic weather has affected about 50% of the apricot area compared to previous years. Currently, people are monitoring which trees can be brought to market, and the rest will be nurtured to serve the next Tet holiday. They are calculating the date to pick the leaves so that the apricot trees will bloom in time for Tet.

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