Growing lotus and raising fish: An effective solution for low-lying ponds.
(Baonghean.vn) - With 2 hectares of low-lying, unproductive land, Mr. Ho Van Minh in Lang Lam hamlet, Nghia Lam commune, Nghia Dan district, boldly planted lotus and raised tilapia, earning over 80 million VND in profit each year.
Previously, Mr. Ho Van Minh's family grew rice, but due to low yields and frequent flooding during the rainy season, the economic benefits were negligible. He decided to switch to growing lotus to sell the seed pods (lotus seeds).
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| Lotus flowers begin to bloom in May, and from June onwards, it's Mr. Minh's season to harvest lotus pods. |
Mr. Ho Van Minh said: lotus is easy to grow, has low initial costs, is resistant to pests and diseases, and requires little care. Growing lotus is only hard work during harvest, but the economic value it brings is double that of rice farming. Harvesting begins in about 4 months. The harvesting period is from the end of May to August, with him harvesting every 3 days. Each lotus pod sells for 1,500 to 2,000 VND. He earns about 200,000 VND per day.
This year's sunny weather has affected the growth of lotus plants, resulting in smaller lotus pods compared to previous years. However, the hot weather these days has led to high demand for young lotus pods, which people buy to eat raw or boiled. Therefore, they sell out as soon as they are harvested.
Because the lotus pond is located near the Ho Chi Minh Trail, many people come to admire the flowers and take pictures during the blooming season. Word spread, and the family's lotus pond became well-known, making it easier to sell their produce.
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| Mr. Ho Van Minh's family's lotus pond is in full bloom. After harvesting the lotus, Mr. Minh will harvest the fish. |
In addition, taking advantage of the abundant water in the lotus pond, Mr. Ho Van Minh raises tilapia, carp, and catfish, earning a profit of about 30 million VND per year.
It can be said that the model of converting inefficient, low-lying land into lotus cultivation and fish farming, as implemented by Mr. Ho Van Minh's family, is a promising direction. For a commune like Nghia Lam, which still faces many difficulties and is in the process of building a new rural area, Mr. Minh's pioneering efforts serve as an example for other households to learn from and improve their income.
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| Attracted by the beauty of the lotus pond, many people come to admire the flowers and take pictures. |
Mr. Le Trung Kien, Vice Chairman of the Nghia Lam Commune People's Committee, said: "With low-lying, unproductive land, growing lotus and raising fish is an innovative approach. The commune will implement solutions to encourage people to switch to crops suitable for each type of land to increase people's income."
Dinh Thuy
Nghia Dan Radio
