Livelihoods across the country are being uprooted to make way for |mushrooming concrete jungles

Used to pay homage to Buddha statues, the lotus is part of everyday life in Thailand.

But those who farm the water plants fear their livelihoods will soon be crushed under ever-expanding urban sprawls. Mushrooming housing estates are the No 1 threat.

"There are just a handful of lotus farmers around here these days," Narong Buachan says. "Most have called it quits and decided to sell their plots to real-estate developers."

Narong owns a lotus farm in Nakhon Pathom.

"It's hard work but I have been doing it my whole life. I completed Grade 6 then left school to help my parents on their lotus farm."

He owns nine rai of his 25-rai farm and pays Bt32,000 to rent the remaining 16 rai of ponds and fields.

"I need a lot of space to ensure I can harvest lotuses throughout the year," he says.

Mud and guts

Narong has never considered quitting, even though lotus farming is a tough way to make a living. Toiling each day in lotus ponds does not guarantee a stable income, he says.

"You have to rely on weather conditions and water levels. Sometimes, I think I'm at the mercy of destiny."

Water pollution from nearby communities has added to his woes.

"Often, I've found lotuses in my ponds wilting."

Buddhist holidays are his only guarantee of good news, as demand for lotuses is always high. "The price hardly increases but at least my business is brisk," he says.

Another lotus farmer, who identifies himself only as Anan, says he knows that his trade's days are numbered.

 "But I'll do my best until the last day of my life," he adds.

Tambon Salaya administrative organisation chairman Amnuay Meunwongtam acknowledges the lotus farms are shrinking in size and number but sees little hope. "There's not much we can do," he says.

However, Maha Sawat village head and lotus-farm owner Arporn Choyprasert is more optimistic.

"I have been lotus farming for 20 years and urban expansion hasn't affected me much yet," she says.

Maha Sawat, she adds, has escaped the impact because most land here belongs to |the Crown Property Bureau, which rents it to locals rather than to real-estate developers.

 "Most locals are farmers," adds Arporn. "Aside from |lotuses, we also grow fruits."