Over 100ha of flowers in Ha Loi village are at risk of going to waste now the village is in coronavirus lockdown. (Photo: VOV)Hanoi (VNS/VNA) -Looking out at their fields of white chrysanthemums that are ready to beharvested, Nga and her husband feel sad because they won't be able to sellany of them.
At a price of 3,000-4,000 VND per stem, she could have earned 50-60 millionVND (2,100-2,500 USD).
"This year, the price of chrysanthemums has dropped to about 1,000 VND perstem but still no one will buy them," Nga told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.
Many flower gardens covering over 100ha in Ha Loi village are at riskof being abandoned or going to waste due to the lockdown decision in Hanoi’sMe Linh commune, Me Linh district, on April 7 afternoon after a localtested positive for COVID-19.
The roads to Ha Loi village are quiet now, and most people are staying athome.
The only people out and about are health workers who are going from house tohouse conducting tests after four cases of the disease were confirmed.
Growing flowers is the main source of income for people here.
"It's painful. I cannot harvest or sell them. They will die. But itis for the safety of the community," Nga said.
Nguyen Quoc Dien has a large flower growing area in Ha Loi village, and said hewas worried because the flowers were wilting.
"Our main source of income is from growing flowers and ornamental plantslike roses, chrysanthemums and lilies. We are in isolation and cannotharvest the flowers for sale. I could lose 200 million VND, but I have acceptedthat and will start again when the disease is wiped out," Dien said.
Ta Quang Thai, Chairman of the Me Linh commune People's Committee, said thereare about 150ha of flower in the whole commune, of which 100ha arein Ha Loi village.
This should be a busy time for them.
Due to the impacts of the COVID-19 epidemic, farmers have beenfacing difficulties finding buyers because flowers are a non-essentialitem.
Flower trading was halted and farmers had suffered losses since thefirst resident was infected by the disease, Thai said.
"Villagers have been told to stay at home, and restrictions on tending toour flowers have also been recommended. The local government is looking atthe damage and will make a proposal to the district People'sCommittee to help people restore production," he said./.
VNA
