BANGKOK, 17 May 2019 (NNT) – The big sale of lotus flowers close to Visakha Bucha day this year may be affected by the drought disaster that has caused fewer lotus to grow and bloom to full size, cutting down the harvest by about half.
Lotus farmers in Sila subdistrict, Khon Kaen province, are now working fast to harvest lotus flowers to customers who have made advance orders for retailing in markets, as the demand for lotus flowers usually grow close to Visakha Bucha day when faithful Buddhists use lotus flowers to pay their respects to lord Buddha and for other religious ceremonies.
The sale of lotus flowers this year are now affected from the drought disaster which caused low reserve water in Ubolrat reservoir, which can no longer supply water into the irrigation network, reducing water level at lotus farms and causing the fewer flowers to bloom and affecting the quality. Farmers can now harvest only 1,000 flowers daily, fewer than the hervest in previous years at 2,000 flowers daily. Fortunately, rainfalls last week have raised water level at farms, however it remains uncertain how much more rain will come.
The reservoir at Ubolrat Dam currently holds 544 million cubic meter of water at 24 percent its capacity. The water at reservoir’s floor has been used by some 12 million cubic meter. The reservoir is discharging water at 500,000 cubic meter daily. The water flowing in from upstream throughout this week remain minimal despite the rain. The water management committee will be holding a meeting following up water situation once the rainy season comes.
