>> Sa Đéc flower village of the Mekong Delta

I. Production area in districts and cities in the province

By July 2023, the province's total area of flower production would have exceeded 2,207 hectares, with production focused in districts and cities such as Sa Dec (946 hectares), Lai Vung (837 hectares), Lap Vo (357 hectares), and others.

There are currently about 2,000 different varieties of flowers and ornamentals in Dong Thap. Flowers and ornamentals are classified into five categories: seasonal flowers, leaf ornamental flowers, interior ornamental flowers, construction trees, and antique bonsai trees.

II. Plan for the development of the province's the floriculture industry

The Provincial People's Committee issued Plan No. 243/KH-UBND dated July 12, 2023, on Developing the Floriculture Industry in Dong Thap province until 2025, with the following basic goals:

1. General objective: Build the flower and ornamental production industry in Dong Thap province to gradually develop sustainably so that it can play an important role in crop restructuring, contributing to increased income for producers, and improving the cultural and spiritual life of the people.

2. Some specific indicators:

+ Production value reaches VND 7,000 billion.

+ The province's ornamental flower growing area totals over 3,500 hectares, with over 1,100 hectares concentrated in Sa Dec city; over 1,500 hectares in Lai Vung district; over 450 hectares in Lap Vo district; and 50 hectares in Cao Lanh city.

+ Conduct testing, selection, and transmission to persons and organizations in need of 2-3 new floral and ornamental varieties suitable for natural conditions, satisfying domestic and international market demands.

+ Implement geographical indication for a typical flower and ornamental product of Dong Thap province.

III. The application of technical advances in the production of ornamental flower

1. Applying biotechnology to the production of varieties

The High-Tech Agricultural Application Center (under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development) was founded in 2014 and is based in Sa Dec City. Its mission is to provide tissue culture plant varieties. Since its inception, this center has provided approximately 200,000-400,000 tissue culture flower seedlings every year, but only a partial supply of seedlings for people, primarily five fundamental flower types: gerber daises, caribbean trumpet trees, chrysanthemums, pentunia, and peace lily.

Furthermore, at the unit, the Center for High-Tech Agricultural Application has been implementing and developing high-tech seed production processes in order to produce ornamental flower varieties. The results were achieved on 17 groups of ornamental flowers (approximately 40-50 species); organizing the collection, management, storage, and exploitation of more than 25 genetic resources of ornamental flower varieties of all kinds; contributing to the diversification of new ornamental flower products based on industry and market requirements, such as daisy, mini daisy, varieties of other daisy (Taiwan, chrysanthemum indicum, chrysanthemum morifolium), caribbean trumpet trees, pentunia, peace lily, english daisy, big purple chrysanthemum, small purple chrysanthemum, petunia, etc., contributing to the diversification of decorative flower products in response to industrial and market demands.

Simultaneously, the Center has worked with the Southern Fruit Tree Institute to transfer seed sources from the project "Improving wild fire rose and tiger chrysanthemum varieties suitable for Sa Dec flower village, Dong Thap province" in order to quickly propagate source samples for phase 2 of the project.

2. Applying certain technology solutions in manufacturing

The use of lighting systems in tissue culture has numerous advantages for seed generation, particularly growth stimulation. The tissue culture room's illumination features 100% artificial light with 24/24 continuous lighting time, ensuring the growth, development, and multiplication coefficient of propagating plants to help boost production and economic efficiency.

Using greenhouses and net houses in flower and ornamental production to reduce the impact of outdoor temperature, control pests and diseases, and contribute to higher seedling and finished plant quality.

Using a remote-controlled watering system with autonomous sprinkler irrigation for flower and ornamental production saves water, minimizes irrigation effort, and allows for more flexibility in watering to improve performance and minimize labor.

3. Deploying advanced technical application models in production

To help minimize labor expenses and prices, a variety of effective models, such as the model of automatic control and spray irrigation system have been introduced in Sa Dec city. The greenhouse concept for cultivating or ornamental flowers assists plants in growing and developing steadily with minimal pests and diseases; alsothe net house application model in ornamental flower production;...

In 2023, Lai Vung district will implement the "lily flower cover model to limit harmful pests and diseases" in Phong Hoa, Dinh Hoa, Tan Hoa, and Vinh Thoi commune.

Translated by Gia Vi