New lotus root variety in Youyang, Chongqing drives villagers out of poverty and toward prosperity, with plans to expand next year

"I planted a total of 806 mu of lotus root, with a yield of at least 3,500 jin per mu. This year I can dig more than 3 million jin of lotus root. At the current wholesale price of 2.2 yuan per jin, my income can reach more than 6 million yuan."

On October 25, in a lotus pond in Tujiazhai Village, Tushi Township, Youyang Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, Chongqing, more than a dozen workers were busy working in the pond. Tang Taiqing, a large-scale lotus root grower, looked at the bumper harvest of lotus root and said happily, "Growing lotus root brings quick results, has a short cycle, brings money back quickly, and there is no worry about sales. It is worth doing."

It is understood that Tang Taiqing was originally from Guang'an, Sichuan, and was once the first person to grow lotus root in Guang'an. Later, after marrying his current wife, he moved to Youyang to live. Considering the good economic benefits of lotus root and the suitable natural conditions, the couple transferred 806 mu of land from villagers to continue growing lotus root.

After careful cultivation, his lotus root achieved a bumper harvest this year. In order to dig out the lotus root from the mud in time, Tang Taiqing also hired more than 60 lotus root diggers to help him harvest the lotus root.

"Now we can earn 100 yuan a day right at our doorstep, much more comfortable than working elsewhere. Not only can we learn lotus root growing techniques, but we can also take care of our families," Wu Xiujiang, a poor villager from Group 6 of Shengli Village who was working, told this writer. Because 4 children in the family were still in school and his wife was unable to work due to mental disability, the family faced great pressure in life and was listed as a poor household. Now, working in Tang Taiqing's lotus root field, he can earn at least more than 2,000 yuan per month. "Getting out of poverty this year depends on him."

It is understood that there are another 7 or 8 poor households working in Tang Taiqing's lotus root field like Wu Xiujiang. Next year, Tang Taiqing will continue to expand the scale of planting and register a company, using the development model of "company + base + farmers" to help more poor villagers escape poverty and become prosperous.