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.

Farmers dry woven bamboo trays and baskets at Hoang Thinh Commune in Hoang Hoa District of Thanh Hoa Province. Poor households in several provinces will received help to increase their income and job opportunities under a US$4million joint project between the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the UN. (Photo: VNS)

This is one of the main targets of a joint
programme on green production and trade in Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Hoa Binh and Phu
Tho provinces.

The US$4.1 million scheme has been
organised by the Trade Promotion Department under the Ministry of Industry and
Trade and five United Nations organisations.

More than 40 per cent 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 programme 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 programme, 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 Viet Nam, China and the Philippines. They will also be involved
in domestic and international trade fairs.

VietNamNet/Viet
Nam News