Nearly 5,000 poor households in four provinces will be given a helping hand to increase income and job opportunities during the next two years. This is one of the main targets of a joint program on green production and trade in Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Hoa Binh and Phu Tho provinces. The 4.1 million USD scheme has been organized by the Trade Promotion Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade and five United Nations organizations. More than 40% of the beneficiaries have a monthly income of less than VND200,000 ($10). "The four provinces were selected due to the high incidence of poverty, especially among ethnic minorities, the concentration of raw materials and local production of craft," said Do Kim Lang, deputy director of the department. The program will focus on boosting five crafts based on bamboo ware, producing and weaving silk, sea grass, lacquer ware and handmade paper. "We want to help poor growers, collectors and producers to improve their products and link them to more profitable markets," said Lang.
Under the program, raw bamboo and rattan material will be managed, exploited and developed in a sustainable way.
"Green here means that we will ensure environmental protection when exploiting raw materials, and ensure safe working condition for farmers," said Lang.
A total of 400ha of bamboo belonging to 150 households have been zoned in Chau Thang district in central Nghe An province. More than 460ha of rattan have also been planted in the four provinces. Local farmers have received training on planting, harvesting and processing. More than 500 people in the four provinces have already received basic training in making bamboo products. And more than 740 others have received advanced training to enable them to make complicated and fine art bamboo products. They have been provided with splitting machines and storage facilities. The export value of bamboo and rattan products in the targeted provinces is expected to rise significantly if there is a well developed understanding of markets, marketing and design. Service providers will also help run advanced training in business development and invite foreign designers to develop new product ranges for bamboo and rattan. Handicraft enterprises will be invited on study tours in Vietnam, China and the Philippines. They will also be involved in domestic and international trade fairs. (vietnamplus.vn Nov 26)
