BATHINDA, Sept. 15 -- Farmers in the border villages of Ferozepur district are setting a new precedent in crop diversification by turning to lotus cultivation, increasing their income by nearly Rs.2 lakh per acre.

The area, including Kunde and Barre Ke, located on Ferozepur's periphery is dotted with tracts of lotus fields, mainly irrigated by the tubewells. This has transformed the agricultural landscape in this region. Farmers convert their fields into temporary ponds, with water levels maintained at about one foot, allowing them to harvest three different products - lotus flowers, 'bhey' (stems) and kol dodda (seeds), which are processed into 'makhana' (fox nuts).

According to horticulture officer Simranjit Singh, nearly 1,200 acres ...