Why Wild Conophytum Plants Are Cheaper? | Clean Internet for Conophytum (CIC-109)
The cost of wild Conophytum plants obtained by poaching is surprisingly low, and the profit rate is several times higher than that of horticultural ones. The reasons are as follows.
First of all, the purchase cost of wild Conophytum plants is low. According to the insiders, the selling price of wild plants asked by poachers in South Africa ranges from 0.5 to 10 rand (1 rand ≈ 0.38 RMB).
Secondly, the main cost of wild Conophytum plants is the freight by weight. For the shipment from South Africa to Thailand, the total cost of a box of Conophytum plants (20-30 kg) is about 10,000 yuan. While the cost from South Africa to Hong Kong for transshipment is about RMB 500 yuan/kg. If the plants are shipped directly to some inland ports, the cost is even lower, which is less than RMB 200 yuan/kg.
Thirdly, wild Conophytum plants are sold immediately after arrival, which does not require cost on cultivation. Through observation by the working group of “Clean Internet for Conophytum” of China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF), the majority of wild plants sold in China over the last two years are sold without a stabilizing period, which is usually longer than one and a half years for the plants to adapt to the change of environment from South Africa and Namibia, where they grow naturally, to China. If the wild plants are sold immediately after arrival, the cost for the plants and shipments is less than RMB 1,000 per kg.
In most cases, the wild Conophytum plants needs at least one and a half years to stabilize in the new artificial environment, during which the scar will cast off and the chopstick-like root will be hidden.
The working group of “Clean Internet for Conophytum” hereby reminds hobbyists and consumers not to spend money on such plants impulsively because of the comparatively low price. Instead of selling wild plants, it is better to increase the horticultural level of Conophytum plants in China.
Original Chinese Article:
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/9rxs5QtApIigB0sjEc8fPA
Translator: Irene
Checked by Sara
Editor: Irene
Contact: v10@cbcgdf.org; +8617319454776
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