Residents in Cam Ha, a commune in Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province, the largest kumquat planting area in central Vietnam, are busy taking care of kumquat trees in preparation for Tet, or the Lunar New Year holiday.

This is the busiest season for kumquat growers in the commune where kumquat gardens are packed with gardeners, workers, and traders.

The gardeners are trying to nurture kumquat trees to promptly supply them to traders.

They are now trimming leaves, spraying fertilizers, and watering the kumquat trees.

According to the gardeners, 80-90 percent of their kumquat trees have already been pre-purchased despite Tet being still two months away.

They mainly sell kumquat trees to central localities such as Da Nang, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Binh and Quang Tri, and the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai.

Nguyen Van Nhi, a 65-year-old resident in Cam Ha Commune who owns some 500 kumquat trees, said traders have already purchased all of his trees.

“In August and September, traders from Gia Lai and Kon Tum Provinces made deposits for the kumquat trees. I will care for the kumquat trees until the middle of the 12th lunar month when the traders come to pick them up,” Nhi said.

Unlike other kumquat planting areas, it takes farmers in Cam Ha Commune three years to be able to sell kumquat trees.

Kumquat bonsai trees are planted in gardens for two years before being put into pots for nurturing for another year.

At present, kumquat trees are priced at VND500,000 (US$19.7) to VND5 million ($197) each, depending on their size.

The climate has been favorable this year, facilitating the growth of kumquat trees, so local farmers have enjoyed higher selling prices compared to last year.

Nguyen Luong, a 62-year-old resident of Cam Ha Commune, said that this year's kumquat trees are more vibrant and beautiful compared to last year, and he is pleased to see their prices rise.

The prices of kumquat trees have increased 5-10 percent from last year.

With more than 200 trees, Luong expects to earn a profit of nearly VND100 million ($3,938).

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