People in Sisne busy collecting lotus roots

By Jaya Man Dudhamagar,Rukum West, Mar. 2: Locals of Sisne Rural Municipality-5, Rukumkot, are now busy collecting lotus roots from Kamal Daha (pond). 

Lotus roots make delicious pickles and contain a lot of health benefits. This year, the rural municipality granted permission to collect the roots from Wednesday. As a result, villagers are harvesting the lotus roots these days.

The Rural Municipality had called for a tender bid to collect the roots, and the rural municipality had set a minimum contract of Rs. 130,000. 

Raju Shah a resident of Sisne-5, won the contract for Rs. 186,450, said Krishna Regmi, Chairperson of the rural municipality. The rural municipality has provided 21 days for collecting lotus roots this year. 

Chairman Regmi shared that the roots are collected only for a certain period through the contract, and if it takes a long time to take out the roots, it may harm the lotus plant. 

Kamal Daha is known as one of the famous tourist destinations in the district. 

A maximum of Rs. 800 per person has been fixed for men and a maximum of Rs. 500 per person for women for collecting the lotus roots.

The contractor is responsible for providing the daily wages to the workers, and the people who remove the roots can sell the roots themselves.

The rural municipality has fixed the price of lotus roots at Rs. 500 per kg, and this season is a time for locals to make some income. Those who collect lotus roots can earn between Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 6,000 per day by selling the roots.

Around 30 to 50 people come daily to collect the roots. Lotus roots should be located with the help of the feet, and to pull them one should get submerged in water for a few seconds, so it’s a risky job. 

Lotus roots can help prevent allergies and fungal infections and are considered beneficial for jaundice patients as well, so their demand has increased significantly.