Expanding lotus growing area needs to pay attention to product output
(Baonghean.vn) - Currently, many localities in the province such as Nam Dan, Vinh City... are expanding the lotus growing area to both create landscape and increase income for people. However, producers and localities need to calculate sustainable output for this product when the area is getting larger.
Converting ineffective rice land to lotus cultivation
These days, people in Hamlet 6, Nghi Kim Commune, Vinh City are busy harvesting lotus to supply to purchasing units. This vast lotus field used to be a low-lying, swampy rice-growing area, cultivated for only a few years, then abandoned due to poor productivity and quality, it seemed that no other crops could be grown.
Faced with this situation, Vinh City has planned to renovate this area to grow lotus and develop the ecological environment, both to avoid wasting land resources and to develop experiential tourism in line with the trend. After 2 years of implementation, from the initial 1 hectare trial, up to now, the lotus field in Hamlet 6, Nghi Kim Commune has expanded to 3.5 hectares, covered in a green color of lotus leaves, decorated with pink and white lotus buds. The desolate, desolate scene of previous years has now become green and peaceful, surprising everyone.
Mr. Nguyen Khac Hoa - hamlet chief of hamlet 6, also a resident with more than 1 sao of lotus, said: The lotus growing area is located in Bau Sau area, hamlet 6. In the past, this area was swampy, polluted, and flooded, so it was abandoned for many years. Since the city and commune had a policy of renovating and converting to growing lotus, the residents have been very excited to support. Currently, the hamlet has 35 households participating, each household from 10 meters to 1-2 sao.
Since switching to growing lotus on rice fields, the people of Hamlet 6, Nghi Kim Commune are very excited because they have "double benefits" when the environment is no longer polluted, the land is not abandoned, and the people have income from selling lotus. In particular, when tourists come to take pictures and want lotus to create scenery, they are willing to buy lotus directly from the people for 5,000 VND/flower, the people have "cash" right in the field.
In Nam Dan district, Kim Lien commune is the locality with the largest lotus growing area in the district. Along the village roads, alleys, and fields in the area, you can see lotus ponds blooming brightly in the summer sun. Kim Lien commune authorities said that there are currently more than 30 hectares of lotus in the area, including, in addition to lotus areas in ponds and ponds, lotus fields are also grown on ineffective rice growing areas with many different types of lotus.
Ms. Tran Thi Ha in Kim Lien commune said: Since converting more than 1.5 sao of rice land to lotus cultivation, the family has had more income without having to take care of it as much as when growing rice. The lotus grows well, has few pests and diseases, and all parts of the lotus plant such as buds, leaves, calyxes, and seeds are purchased, so the family has a stable income many times higher than when growing rice before.
Mr. Tran Khac Nghia - Vice Chairman of Kim Lien Commune People's Committee said: Of the more than 30 hectares of regular lotus cultivation, about 20 hectares are from ponds and marshes, the remaining area is from converting ineffective rice fields to lotus cultivation. This method has initially proven effective when it not only creates beautiful landscapes in Uncle Ho's hometown but also generates income for the people. It is expected that in the coming years, the locality will continue to mobilize and encourage people to convert to lotus cultivation, with about 40 hectares of lotus in the area.
Nam Giang Commune, Nam Dan District is currently piloting lotus cultivation on an area of 2 hectares, mainly on rice fields. Nam Giang Commune authorities said that if the pilot is successful, they will plan a lotus growing area of about 6-7 hectares, mainly concentrated in hamlets 5 and 6, where there are many low-lying, ineffective rice fields in recent years.
According to statistics from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Nam Dan district, up to now, the whole district has about 200 hectares of lotus, of which many lotus areas are grown on rice fields, concentrated in the communes of Kim Lien, Nam Thanh, Khanh Son, Thuong Tan Loc...
Need to focus on product output
In fact, many localities in the province are expanding the lotus growing area every year, but with the increasingly large area, it is necessary to pay attention to the product output for people in the condition that deep processing in the lotus chain has not yet developed strongly, in which, most of them are selling fresh lotus, which is not sustainable if the market does not have a large demand.
In Nghi Kim commune, Vinh city, the lotus growing area is currently 3.5 hectares and the commune is planning to propose to the city to expand by 5 hectares in Bau Sau area, doubling the current area. The question is, when expanding the lotus growing area, will there be any unit willing to purchase all the products for the people?
Mr. Nguyen Van Khiem - Chairman of Nghi Kim Commune People's Committee said: For the current 3.5 hectares, there are 2 units committed to purchasing for the people, although the commune's desire is to expand the lotus growing area to create a highlight for the landscape and eco-tourism in the area as well as the city, however, in terms of creating sustainable income for lotus growers if expanded, it cannot be confirmed, because it depends on the connection and market price. This is also something the locality is concerned about.
In Kim Lien commune, Nam Dan district, although the lotus growing area is very large, Mr. Tran Khac Nghia - Vice Chairman of Kim Lien commune People's Committee said that currently, there are only 2 units that purchase lotus for the people, which are Sen Que Bac Cooperative and a new production facility that has just come into operation. If they do not import for these units, the people will have to find a way to retail to the market or hope that tourists who visit will buy lotus to support them. Therefore, if the lotus growing area is expanded as planned, ensuring output for the people is very important.
The representative of the Bac Que Sen Cooperative said: Currently, the unit is purchasing lotus products for local people, in which priority is given to areas that the Cooperative has cooperated with. Because the unit's lotus processed products must ensure quality from planting to harvesting, and proper selection, it is not possible to purchase all mass lotus from local people. Therefore, in addition to converting to growing lotus on rice fields, people also need to pay attention to the varieties and care process to have quality lotus products, and the purchasing units will be ready to purchase.
The conversion of low-lying, frequently flooded, and inefficient rice fields to lotus cultivation has been implemented by Nam Dan district in recent years and encouraged by localities to implement it to ensure the landscape as well as increase income for people. However, the expansion of lotus cultivation areas also raises the issue of ensuring output for people. In the coming time, the district will strengthen connections with units, businesses, and processors, while promoting the strengths of local lotus so that the products are widely known, contributing to creating consumption outlets for lotus growers in the area.
