On these summer days, Thach Nham Dong Village, Hoa Nhon Commune, Hoa Vang District, has been covered by thousands of lotus flowers radiating fragrance, racing to bloom in the fields, creating a picturesque picture of the countryside.

A lotus field of more than 2 hectares has been at the end of the season in Thach Nham Dong Village, Hoa Nhon Commune, Hoa Vang district. Photo: TUONG VY

Thach Nham Dong Village has 3 hectares of agricultural land that people have not been able to cultivate for many years. Therefore, following the policy of Hoa Vang District on promoting the transformation of crop structure and improving the fallow land for the urban economy, since the beginning of this year, Hoa Nhon Commune has been renovating the area of farmland to develop a model of growing lotus to increase people's income and contribute to building communes up to new rural standards.

At first, people were not familiar with the new model because they had never accessed the profession of growing lotus. However, the Commune People's Committee, the farmer's society and the Village’s Party Committee have actively coordinated with departments, branches and mass organizations to propagate and guide households on how to sow, plant, care for and protect lotus plants. This type of lotus specializes in seeds, and it is very easy to grow on low-lying land. Besides,  it does not require technical skills but gives a high yield.

The main lotus crop of the year starts from February to the end of August, and the lotus can be harvested after 3 months. Also, the lotus crop can be shortened or extended depending on weather conditions. If the weather is favourable, lotus will grow dramatically in the fields after 1.5 months. Lotus is popular and easy to sell, in addition, its price is fairly stable. At the beginning of the season, the price of lotus seeds is about VND 50,000/kg, and the figure is about VND 40,000 /kg VND.

According to Mr Le Thanh Long, Leader of the Residential Group No.3, the commune has continued to advise and support people to access preferential loans; coordinated with related branches to open vocational training classes and guide advanced lotus growing techniques, thereby opening appropriate development directions, contributing to building Hoa Nhon Commune up to new rural standards.

“This long-term potential model will bring economic benefits in the long run because planting lotus is more leisurely than planting rice. Moreover, lotus seems to give many times higher income than other crops of the same area and at the same amount of time. On average, each household can pick and sell more than 10 kilogrammes of lotus per day, " Mr Long said.

Mr Le Duc Tu, who was picking lotus flowers, cheerfully shared: “Since planting lotus, local households have been excited as their income has increased much higher. Growing lotus has both beautified the field and taken the initiative. In the afternoons, people can pick lotus at any time, unlike in rice cultivation, they have to wait for the harvest season. On top of that, There is an upward trend in the number of visitors coming to the village to take pictures with lotus.

Currently, the whole village now has 2 hectares of water surface that has been converted to lotus cultivation, which not only brings income but also contributes to creating a green - clean - beautiful rural landscape, helping people improve their material and spiritual lives. Currently, the Party Committee of Thach Nham Dong Village has the policy to replicate this model on the remaining 1 hectare of farmland.

The reality shows that the effects and benefits brought from the lotus are much more than expected. The land is not wasted, contributing to creating environmental landscapes and creating more jobs for people.

For the time being, the lotus growing model is being continued to be replicated in many localities, opening a new direction for farmers to develop their financial background.

Reporting by HUYNH TUONG VY- Translating by T.VY