It's smiles all round, as the cultivation of lotus roots in Duntou town boosts the prosperity of local farmers. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

Blessed by nature, with its prime geographic position in the Lixia River depression, Duntou town in Hai'an – a county-level city administered by Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province – has in recent years been able to vigorously develop its cultivation of lotus roots and has branched out into processing them, adding yet more value to its annual harvest and bringing with it a better life for locals.

Some villages in Duntou town are also encouraging local lotus root growers to introduce new varieties and technologies, to boost the continued expansion of the industry.

Currently, Xinshe village is cultivating an area of 80 hectares, generating nearly 8 million yuan ($1.2 million) in revenue annually. With an annual output of nearly 2,000 tons, the lotus roots are sold to major cities such as Fuzhou, Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou.

Lotus root farming has become a new way to lead farmers in Duntou town to prosperity.

To date, the town has held five lotus festivals, effectively boosting the development of the "lotus roots economy".