Lotus planting drives rural vitalization in Sanya

Under the July sun in the lotus pond of Baohou village in Tianya district, Sanya, the 10-mu (0.67 hectares) lotus seeds being planted by the Sanya Tropical Agriculture Research Institute are witnessing a bountiful harvest.

In recent years, the Sanya Tropical Agriculture Research Institute has introduced high-quality fruit and vegetable varieties adapted to the local climate and soil conditions, injecting new vitality into the development of efficient tropical agriculture in Sanya.

These lotus seeds in Baohou village are of a lotus flower variety called "Jianxuan No 35," introduced by the institute in April this year.

Agricultural expert Liu Yang from the institute explains that the choice of "Jianxuan No 35" was due to its suitability for tropical regions.

"This lotus seed not only tastes excellent but also has high nutritional value and is suitable for people of all ages," Liu added. During the flowering and harvesting seasons, the flowers attract tourists for flower appreciation and picking experiences, forming an industrial chain combining sightseeing and picking. This approach helps in creating rural tourism spots and boosting farmers' incomes.

To ensure the healthy growth of lotus flowers, the management team at the institute employs advanced planting techniques, providing a favorable growth environment for the lotus flowers through scientific fertilization, proper irrigation, and other measures.

Next year, they plan to expand the planting area further and promote industrial development in Sanya, Wuzhishan, and Tunchang, striving to make lotus seeds a new highlight in rural tourism.

Fresh lotus seeds from outside the province usually mature around July to August each year, resulting in a market gap from September to the following June. By utilizing Sanya's climatic advantages and promoting the cultivation of lotus seeds out of season, this gap can be filled, meeting market demands, according to Liu.

Currently, the 10 mu of lotus seeds are ready for harvest, with harvest season expected to last for over six months and yield over 500 kilograms per acre. The harvested lotus seeds are now available in major supermarkets in Sanya, priced at 30 yuan ($4 yuan) per kilogram.