By BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA
Many Cambodian flower and fruit tree sellers in Phnom Penh have positive reports to make about their trade. According to fresh flower and sapling sellers interviewed by the Cambodia Weekly this week, average earnings can rise to as much as US $20 per day.
Long Sokunthy, 36, owner of Suon Chbar Thamcheat (Natural Garden), located at Sangkat Teuk Thla, Phnom Penh, along Russian Federation Boulevard, told the Cambodia Weekly that selling this produce made good financial sense for both her and her family.
Sokunthy said, “I have been a flower and fruit-plant seller since 1994. In my opinion, this is a good trade, as arranging flowers and foliage in an attractive manner suits my tastes, skills and abilities. Apart from this, I have a duty to put food on the table for my family, and where duty and pleasure coincide, the result is certainly going to be good.”
Sokunthy confirmed with evident pride that since taking up the trade, her family’s living standards have improved.
In 1994 Sokunthy first had US $100 capital and could sell a limited variety of flowers grown in her garden. However due to market expansion and the demands of her clients, she has enlarged her business activities by planting more flowers and fruit tree saplings. Additionally, she is able to order flowers and saplings from Thailand and Vietnam for sale in her garden.
Sokunthy concluded by pointing out some of the most popular of the hundreds of flowers and fruit trees growing in her garden. It is the popularity of these species that allows her to make $200 on a good day.
Ing Muoy, 38, Owner of Ing Mey Flower Garden, located at Sangkat Phnom Penh Thmey, Khan Russey Keo, Phnom Penh, said she too had built up a regular and secure income selling flowers and fruit-plants. On an average day, she said she could sell 50 plants but during festivals, this could rise to 150 plants per day. She said that most of the thousands of species of plants for sale in her allotments were imported from Vietnam and Thailand.
Muoy said that the price of flowers or fruit-plants ranged from 1,000 riel up to US $100. She was also aware of the benefits of adding value to the customer. “I have many different kinds of flowers and fruit trees in my garden. For those who buy in bulk, I am able to transport the plants and shrubs anywhere in Phnom Penh at no extra cost.”
She explained that her customers fell into one of two broad categories. Business people, civil servants and N.G.O. employees tended to be well informed amateur horticulturalists. She also had a number of farmers in her customer database who bought her fruit tree saplings to provide an extra source of income, once they started to yield fruit.
41-Year-Old Than Samnang remembered days in the late 90’s when he was a farmer and vegetable seller on the outskirts of Phnom Penh.
Samnang said in 2000, he discovered that selling flowers and saplings was a profitable activity. From that point on, his focus was on flowers and fruit.
He recalled the early days, in contrast to the success he enjoys today. “Before selling flowers and fruit trees, my family’s living conditions were poor. Now I can be confident in taking home at least $40 per day.” He shuddered as he remembered hardships endured trying to keep a family clothed and fed on the $5 he used to make selling vegetables.
He concluded, “When I see my family’s living conditions improving day after day, I am certainly content with the fruits of my labour.”
Many Cambodian flower and fruit tree sellers in Phnom Penh have positive reports to make about their trade. According to fresh flower and sapling sellers interviewed by the Cambodia Weekly this week, average earnings can rise to as much as US $20 per day.
Long Sokunthy, 36, owner of Suon Chbar Thamcheat (Natural Garden), located at Sangkat Teuk Thla, Phnom Penh, along Russian Federation Boulevard, told the Cambodia Weekly that selling this produce made good financial sense for both her and her family.
Sokunthy said, “I have been a flower and fruit-plant seller since 1994. In my opinion, this is a good trade, as arranging flowers and foliage in an attractive manner suits my tastes, skills and abilities. Apart from this, I have a duty to put food on the table for my family, and where duty and pleasure coincide, the result is certainly going to be good.”
Sokunthy confirmed with evident pride that since taking up the trade, her family’s living standards have improved.
In 1994 Sokunthy first had US $100 capital and could sell a limited variety of flowers grown in her garden. However due to market expansion and the demands of her clients, she has enlarged her business activities by planting more flowers and fruit tree saplings. Additionally, she is able to order flowers and saplings from Thailand and Vietnam for sale in her garden.
Sokunthy concluded by pointing out some of the most popular of the hundreds of flowers and fruit trees growing in her garden. It is the popularity of these species that allows her to make $200 on a good day.
Ing Muoy, 38, Owner of Ing Mey Flower Garden, located at Sangkat Phnom Penh Thmey, Khan Russey Keo, Phnom Penh, said she too had built up a regular and secure income selling flowers and fruit-plants. On an average day, she said she could sell 50 plants but during festivals, this could rise to 150 plants per day. She said that most of the thousands of species of plants for sale in her allotments were imported from Vietnam and Thailand.
Muoy said that the price of flowers or fruit-plants ranged from 1,000 riel up to US $100. She was also aware of the benefits of adding value to the customer. “I have many different kinds of flowers and fruit trees in my garden. For those who buy in bulk, I am able to transport the plants and shrubs anywhere in Phnom Penh at no extra cost.”
She explained that her customers fell into one of two broad categories. Business people, civil servants and N.G.O. employees tended to be well informed amateur horticulturalists. She also had a number of farmers in her customer database who bought her fruit tree saplings to provide an extra source of income, once they started to yield fruit.
41-Year-Old Than Samnang remembered days in the late 90’s when he was a farmer and vegetable seller on the outskirts of Phnom Penh.
Samnang said in 2000, he discovered that selling flowers and saplings was a profitable activity. From that point on, his focus was on flowers and fruit.
He recalled the early days, in contrast to the success he enjoys today. “Before selling flowers and fruit trees, my family’s living conditions were poor. Now I can be confident in taking home at least $40 per day.” He shuddered as he remembered hardships endured trying to keep a family clothed and fed on the $5 he used to make selling vegetables.
He concluded, “When I see my family’s living conditions improving day after day, I am certainly content with the fruits of my labour.”
No comments:
Post a Comment