The 2010 ASHS Annual Conference

There are  many marsh areas in Thailand where  some are swamps that are suitable for lotus farming especially in Budhamontol District in Nakornpatom province.  It was recognized as one of the most important lotus farm in Thailand. From the survey research   most farmers who grow lotus are men with average age of 43.4 years.  The lotus farm areas are 18.08 rais (7.232 acres) per person in average.  Most of the areas are used to be rice farm and are rented.  Better income is the reason for  farmers  who change from rice farm to lotus farm.   About 62.86 % of the farmers used their own financial cost for their lotus farm. Lotus farm begins with the preparation of lotus pond by plowing off the land surface, leaving the pond to be dried out,  putting in bio fertilizers and then getting water into the pond about 15 centimeters  height from the bottom.  Farmers will transplant the lotus rhizomes in the pond which is called covered with soil method.  The popular varieties Lotus rhizomes is Sattabankacha.  Farmers who grow the lotus will start in summer during February – March because the plant will grow up very well and will be harvested from May onward.  At the age of 3 – 4 months  or when the lotus yield less products farmers will plough over the stems and rhizomes to be buried in the soil and let the rhizomes to sprout up. Farmers will put in fertilizers to the lotus farm at 50 kilograms per rai every 20 – 30 days. To get rid of plant insects the farmers will spray insecticides every 2 weeks. The products from lotus farm are lotus flowers, young and old berry like fruits but mostly are flowers.  Lotus flowers for sale that suit the need of the market should be at the age of 2 months. Harvesting of lotus products will be accounted for 207.14 bundles (bundle with 10 flowers) on average a day.  Most farmers will sell their products by themselves at Pak klongtalad.   Some has sent their product to Singapore.   The net income is about 1,028.25 baht per day.    In addition, for export, which is another way of marketing, only a few farmers could do by themselves due to the lack of knowledge in international market.  They have to depend upon the middleman and exporter for other flowers such as orchid.

Abstracts:

• Lotus.jpg (352.1KB) - Abstract Text