Batterway: Lotus Bud Producer's Splendid Service

Lotus Bud Producer's Splendid Service

UPDATE : 15 March 2010

Kinnareemas

“My heart is filled with joy in the knowledge that my lotus buds are being used by Buddhist followers to offer to monks and the Lord Buddha,” says U-sa Mamuangbon, a 46-year-old resident of Nakhon Pathom’s Buddhamonthon district, where she has been cultivating the distinctive plants on her 15-rai (2.4-hectare) pond for over 30 years.

Lotus flowers have been an important part of Thai life for centuries. As well as appearing as a religious symbol, the flowers also feature heavily in many other aspects of Thai culture.

In the Thai language, for example, bua (‘lotus’) is combined to create many other words, such as the dessert bua loy (flour balls in sweetened coconut milk). The word is also well known for its use as a (female) first name.

Investment in the cultivation of lotus flowers has become an important development, which can drive the local economy. In addition to Nakhon Pathom province, you can also see lots of lotus ponds in the provinces of Suphan Buri and Pathum Thani.

A family tradition
U-sa says she began to maintain the lotus pond in tandem with her younger sister after their father, who was responsible for converting the plot from a rice paddy, passed away a few years ago.

The idea for making the switch was that there is strong demand for lotus blossoms year-round, since they are used in popular forms of merit-making.

U-sa picks the buds three or four times a week for her regular customers, mainly flower vendors at temples and Pak Klong Talad (Bangkok’s principal flower market). She picks about 1,000-2,000 buds during each session, which she begins early in the morning and takes between two or three hours to complete.

The practical side involves being semi-submerged and walking in the mud, which allows U-sa to closely check on the condition of the blooms. Some may be ready for immediate use, while other may not be quite ready.

“Picking the flowers is laborious work,” she says, “but I’m happy to continue with it since I enjoy it.”

Agriculture-oriented attraction
Up until the late 1990s, there were up to nine lotus farms in the district, but as the buds became a less profitable source of income, many farmers switched to other crops. Nowadays, there are only two lotus producers left in Buddhamonthon district. Although the cost of living has risen sharply, the price of lotus buds has remained consistent and a farmer can currently only earn about one baht ($0.03) per bud.

Nevertheless, U-sa says she feel lucky to be the owner of the tranquil plot that hosts the beautiful pond and is keen for others to experience it first hand, too. U-sa’s farm is now a popular tourist destination in its own right as part of Buddhamonthon district’s agricultural tour program.

Those visiting the farm can relax in the shade provided by a large pavilion located at the center of the pond, feed the fish, or even row a boat out to pick some flowers if they wish.

Persons interested in participating in the tour can find out more by calling Buddhamonthon’s Agricultural Tour Service Center on Tel: +66 (0)34 297 152.