Nghe An farmers wade through waist-deep lake to harvest lotus seeds

In recent years, many localities in the province have revived the movement of growing lotus for seeds. Large ponds, lakes, and fields with stagnant water all year round are covered with the green color of lotus. Photo: Huy Thu

According to lotus growers, the lotus harvest season lasts for several months, depending on how early or late the lotus blooms. Usually, the hottest time of the year is also the peak of the lotus harvest season. These days, people in large lotus ponds in Yen Thanh, Thanh Chuong, Do Luong, Nam Dan districts... can be seen wading through the ponds to harvest lotus shoots. Photo: Huy Thu

Each lotus flower from blooming until it becomes a mature mirror can be harvested for seeds, the time lasts about 1 month. In the lotus pond, there are often all kinds of young and old lotus mirrors... Photo: Huy Thu

Currently, local people often grow two main types of lotus: red lotus and white lotus. During the lotus harvest season, at its peak, lotus growers have to wade through the lake every day to harvest. Photo: Huy Thu

Farmers are also quite busy when it comes to lotus picking season. Families that grow large amounts of lotus, several hectares, not only have to wade through ponds and lakes early every day, but also have to hire workers to harvest lotus shoots and separate the seeds. Photo: Huy Thu

In deep ponds and lakes, the lotus flowers are taller than a person. When harvesting, farmers often wade in the middle of deep ponds, with water up to their waists, pushing plastic buckets to pick lotus buds. Harvesting lotus buds on hot sunny days is quite hard work. Photo: Huy Thu

Mr. Nguyen The Nga (49 years old) in Thanh Lien commune (Thanh Chuong) said that his family grows 1 hectare of lotus. Compared to growing rice, growing lotus seeds brings in much higher income. Photo: Huy Thu

Besides harvesting lotus buds and separating the seeds for import, lotus growers in the localities also harvest young lotus buds to sell to passersby to boil, cook sweet soup... In the photo: People of Phuc Thanh commune (Yen Thanh) sell lotus buds near Dieu Oc lake. Photo: Huy Thu

During lotus seed harvesting season, every lotus growing family can see the bustling scene of peeling lotus seeds. Peeling lotus seeds takes a lot of time, so households have to mobilize a lot of manpower. Photo: Huy Thu

After being peeled, lotus seeds are selected according to their age, to be dried or "eaten immediately". Lotus seeds can be processed into many nutritious dishes, so they are popular with many people. Currently, lotus seeds with shells are imported by farmers to traders at a price of 32,000 - 35,000 VND/kg. Growing lotus seeds not only beautifies the landscape but also brings people a good source of income. Photo: Huy Thu