Farmers in Duntou town are delighted that their lotus roots are commanding a relatively high price on market. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

These days the busy farmers of Xinshe village in Duntou town – in the county-level city of Hai'an, administered by Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province – are out and about picking lotus roots in the fields by the score.

Compared with previous seasons, this year the village's crop came onto the market 20 days in advance. Due to a shortage in supply, they got a bumper price of 20 yuan ($3.10) per kilogram.

In recent years, Duntou has taken advantage of its high-quality water resources to plant lotus roots and it's led to prosperity for its residents.