People in Uncle Ho's hometown are well off thanks to growing lotus

In the early days of August, 2022, we visited Uncle Ho's hometown (Kim Lien commune, Nam Dan district, Nghe An province). Wherever you go, you will see green lotus ponds - images that were difficult to see many years ago.

Building a brand "Lotus of Uncle Ho"

According to the people here, the lotus tree has been with them for many generations. However, there was a period when growing lotus did not bring economic benefits, so many households switched to fish farming. Since 2018, realizing that fish farming is beneficial in the short term, it pollutes the environment and disrupts the traditional landscape of Uncle Ho's hometown, so the local government has propagated and mobilized people in the whole commune to move all ponds and lakes to raise fish to grow lotus. In addition, an area of rice fields was also converted to planting lotus plants.

In 2018, the Lotus Cooperative in Uncle Ho's hometown was established with the goal of promoting lotus cultivation in Kim Lien commune. Currently, the Lotus cooperative in Uncle Ho's hometown has tested, preserved, planted and cared for 125 lotus varieties. About 30 varieties are grown in the field, of which 27 are domestic and imported, mainly for flowers, some varieties are used for leaves, stems, roots... Mr. Pham Kim Tien, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sen Cooperative in Uncle Ho's hometown, said After many years of working with lotus plants, he has traveled all over the provinces from the North to the South, and abroad to both learn farming techniques and look for seedlings and has brought more than 50 varieties of lotus from all different regions to plant in Kim Lien. "Bringing many lotus varieties to plant in Uncle Ho's hometown, in addition to creating economic value and increasing the income of lotus growers, also has the meaning of building this place to become a convergence of flavors and aromas of lotus varieties from all walks of the country" - Mr. Tien affirmed.

Thanks to the introduction of many new varieties of lotus, the development of lotus cultivation here not only creates a beautiful landscape typical for Uncle Ho's hometown, but also brings great economic benefits, helping many farmers to have stable incomes and get rich on the countryside. Mr. Nguyen Van Hung (67 years old; living in Sen 2 hamlet, Kim Lien commune) said: "My family now grows 1.5 hectares of lotus of all kinds, earning about 300 million VND per year from selling lotus products. Lotus brings 3 times more economic efficiency than rice cultivation. According to Mr. Hung, in Kim Lien commune, not only his family but many other families have a stable life thanks to growing lotus. "The lotus tree has been with my family for many generations. Thanks to the lotus cultivation, I can raise my children to study and grow up. The lotus tree has really helped my family have a good income..." - Mr. Hung informed.

Lotus ponds create a beautiful landscape that attracts tourists in Kim Lien commune, Nam Dan district, Nghe An province

Products processed from lotus plants in Nam Dan district are available in domestic and foreign markets

People in Kim Lien harvest lotus flowers

Associated with ecotourism development

Recently, the lotus growing area in Nam Dan district has been expanded. Returning to Uncle Ho's hometown today, visitors will admire the lotus ponds in full bloom; surprised, attached to the beauty of the lotus; Enjoy the fresh and sweet taste of tea from lotus flowers and crispy dried lotus seeds. The lotus tree has brought opportunities to develop tourism economy for the locality when it is becoming an attractive tourist destination; More and more groups of tourists come to Nam Dan district to enjoy the peaceful space and enjoy lotus preparations. Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy, a tourist from Hanoi, said: "When I return to my hometown, my favorite thing is to walk on the roads flanked by green lotus ponds, to be immersed in the natural scenery of the countryside fragrant with lotus fragrance. ".

Mr. Nguyen Quang Loc - Chairman of the People's Committee of Kim Lien commune, Nam Dan district - said that in recent years, in association with building Kim Lien into a model new rural commune, the government has directed people to expand the planting lotus in the area. The planting of lotus has created a green - clean - beautiful - friendly landscape; preserve and promote the traditional beauty of the village in Kim Lien, really associated with the name "Lotus village of Uncle Ho". In addition, the locality focuses on developing a variety of products processed from lotus to serve visitors and develop sustainable eco-tourism.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Son - Chairman of the People's Committee of Nam Dan district, Nghe An province - affirmed that the district will study and select strategic products from lotus for investment and development, aiming for export; develop cuisine from lotus, especially in combination with eco-tourism so that every visitor to Uncle Ho's hometown can admire the fragrant green lotus fields and enjoy lotus products with its own flavor of this land.