Fenying Lotus Roots

Fenying Lotus Roots

　　Fenying lotus roots are a specialty of Fenying Village in Gaoxian Town, Quwo County, Linfen City, Shanxi Province. The lotus roots produced abundantly in Fenying Village are highly favored by consumers for their “tender, white, crisp texture and smooth mouthfeel.” Currently, the village has established a specialized cooperative for lotus root cultivation and applied to the state for the well-known product trademark “Fenying Lotus Roots.”

　　Gaoxian Town in Quwo County is situated on the eastern bank of the Fen River. The soil here is sandy, making it particularly suitable for growing lotus roots. Historically, there has been a tradition of cultivating lotus roots, and by the year 2000, the planting area had reached nearly 1,000 acres. The lotus roots produced were cherished by consumers for being “tender, white, crisp, and smooth.” However, due to the discontinuation of water flow in the Fen River, normal production became impossible, and the planting area sharply declined. In 2004, with the support and assistance of the County Land and Resources Bureau, Fenying Village in Gaoxian Town developed a 500-acre tidal flat area located 1 kilometer north of the village into lotus ponds. Lotus root cultivation was then prioritized as a key project for adjusting the village’s industrial structure. Through scientific farming and modern management, the yield per acre of lotus roots reached over 2,000 kilograms, generating considerable economic benefits. Currently, the village has established a specialized cooperative for lotus root cultivation and applied to the state for the well-known product trademark “Fenying Lotus Roots.”

　　The county has designated the development of the Fen River tidal flats as a key project for this year. A 500-acre tidal flat area north of the existing lotus ponds is being developed into a lotus root planting base, along with supporting facilities such as electric pumping stations, roads, irrigation channels, and tree belts. With the joint efforts of the County Land and Resources Bureau, Water Resources Bureau, Electric Power Bureau, Forestry Bureau, and other departments, construction of the project began in October this year. To date, the widening and leveling of Roads No. 2 and No. 3 have been completed, as well as the foundation construction of all field roads and production roads within the lotus ponds. Planning for over 300 acres of production pools and the leveling of water surfaces within the pools have also been finished, and infrastructure construction for the electric pumping station has been carried out. Hardening of the irrigation channels, installation of pipelines, and greening projects are currently underway at full pace.

　　At the same time, work such as investigating and introducing new varieties and providing technical training for growers is also progressing in an orderly manner. It is expected that villagers will be able to plant lotus roots by March or April next year.

　　To effectively increase farmers’ income and adjust the industrial structure, the county adheres to the principle of “gradual advancement and steady development.” It plans to further expand the local lotus root cultivation scale on the basis of the existing thousand-acre lotus ponds by developing an additional 2,000 acres of lotus ponds in the southeastern part of Fenying Village and the tidal flat area north of Road No. 3, truly forming a scale effect and establishing “Fenying Lotus Roots” as a renowned brand across the province and even the nation. At the same time, the deep processing of lotus roots is being put on the agenda, with the development of a series of products including lotus nodes, lotus seeds, lotus roots, lotus hearts, petals, stamens, and lotus leaves. This industry will be expanded and strengthened to become a thriving business that helps local farmers achieve prosperity. Additionally, the cultivation of ornamental lotus is being actively introduced to develop modern agritourism, serving local economic development through multiple channels and benefiting the local population.