Growing lotus to raise funds to support women and children

Practical model

The lotus growing model was implemented by the Lac Binh Village Women's Union from November 2023 with ^1,500m2 . The land for growing lotus is 5% land managed by the village. The union discussed and signed a contract with the village to use the land for 5 years to grow lotus to increase income and create a fund to organize activities. After planting, the union regularly monitors, cares for, and fertilizes the lotus to produce high yields. By April 2024, the union harvested the first batch of lotus with 8kg of dried lotus, 21kg of lotus seeds with shells, 13kg of lotus buds and sold for more than 1 million VND. Ms. Phan Thi My Hanh - Head of the Lac Binh Village Women's Union said that initially when implementing the model, only 60% of the union members agreed. After a period of planting and caring for the lotus to grow well, the women saw the economic efficiency of the model, so they joined together to care for, harvest the lotus, peel the lotus seeds to sell to create funds for the association to organize activities to support women and children in difficult circumstances in the village.

Women of Lac Binh village harvest lotus.

Every year, lotus is harvested for about 5 months, from April to August. Each month, the association harvests lotus from 2 to 3 batches and posts the products for sale on social networking platforms at prices ranging from 15,000 to 40,000 VND/kg depending on the type. In addition to lotus buds and dried lotus seeds, the women also sell fresh lotus seeds with shells. In 2024, the association harvested 10 batches and sold 300kg of dried lotus and 80kg of lotus buds for a total of 10.2 million VND. After deducting expenses, the association earned more than 8 million VND. Not only does it help increase income and create a proactive fund, growing lotus also creates a green - clean - beautiful environment in the locality. After the model achieved good results, the association also provided technical guidance and knowledge to 3 members to grow lotus ^on more than 5,000m2 and bring stable income to the family.

The sisters are happy with the results after harvesting lotus.

Support for the disadvantaged

From its income, the association has helped many women and children in difficult circumstances. Among them, the association sponsored Ho Anh Dat (born in 2006), an orphan, with an amount of 300,000 VND/quarter until he turns 18; awarded 5 scholarships (200,000 VND/scholarship) to poor students who overcome difficulties to study well; awarded notebooks to excellent students on the occasion of International Children's Day on June 1 every year; provided means of livelihood to women in difficult circumstances and with disabilities... In the case of Ms. Huynh Thi Ngoc (born in 1967, Lac Binh village) who has a mobility disability and difficulty in walking, in addition to a monthly allowance of about 750,000 VND, she has no job to make a living; her son is married but still has difficulties so he cannot help much. In July 2024, the Lac Binh Village Women's Union used funds from the lotus growing model to give her a livelihood worth 1 million VND. She used this money to buy a kiosk and snacks to sell to local children and students. "Thanks to this kiosk, I have a job to earn extra income to support myself, so I am very happy," Ms. Ngoc shared. In addition, the union also regularly gives her gifts and rice to help her stabilize her life.

Ms. Le Ngoc Mai - Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the commune and President of the Women's Union of Bac Ninh Hoa commune said: The lotus growing model of the Lac Binh village Women's Union is a new and creative model of female members in the commune. This is not only an effective economic model, contributing to environmental protection but also helps the union increase income to have conditions to help women and children in difficult circumstances in the village. In the coming time, the union will continue to mobilize the union to maintain the model and expand it to other unions to create a regular fund to support those in difficult circumstances.

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/xa-hoi/202507/trong-sen-gay-quy-ho-tro-phu-nu-tre-em-fb539ac/