Bamboo and rattan weaving industry in trouble

(Baonghean.vn) - Up to now, Nghe An has 44 rattan and bamboo weaving villages recognized by the Provincial People's Committee with 3,700 workers. However, for many reasons, there are currently only more than 20 villages still operating with about 1,000 workers.

In its heyday (before 2008), there were nearly 40 bamboo and rattan weaving villages, attracting about 4,000 workers. And now, according to the synthesis from the Cooperative Union, in Nghe An there are 44 MTD craft villages, but according to the reporter's research, many villages are "in name only", in reality they are no longer operating. According to Mr. Thai Dai Phong - owner of a large MTD exporting enterprise in the province, the number of villages actually operating to supply products to enterprises is 19 villages with about 500 workers, of which the village that employs the most is 100 workers, some villages have only 10 workers left.

For many years, the Son My MTD craft village (Quynh My, Quynh Luu) and the Bac Vuc MTD craft village (Do Thanh, Yen Thanh) have stopped operating. Dien Chau has 20 craft villages, including 3 bamboo and rattan weaving craft villages, and all 3 of these craft villages are currently operating at a low level, or even stopped. Nghi Phong (Nghi Loc) has 2 villages, but both have stopped so far; Nghi Thai has 11 villages, but is also in a state of "clinical death", with only 2 villages remaining...

Ms. Dang Thi Xuan in Thai Hoa hamlet (Nghi Thai, Nghi Loc) is over 60 this year but has been involved in the bamboo and rattan weaving profession for over 40 years. She learned to weave when she was 12 years old. She said that every day she works hard, she can earn 50,000-70,000 VND. Healthy people all have jobs, and those who work as construction workers are also paid 200,000-250,000 VND/day. I am weak, have poor eyesight, and have few fields and gardens, so I have to follow suit.

Coming to Thai Hoa MTD craft village (Nghi Thai, Nghi Loc), we were told by Mr. Doan Huu Suu - the person in charge of the craft village, that in 2005, almost 100% of households were engaged in the craft, but now there is only one household weaving export products for businesses, and a few households weaving traditional products. Exported rattan and bamboo products such as rattan fruit baskets, rattan chairs... once slept with by the generation of men have become unfamiliar to the people of Thai Hoa in particular and Nghi Thai commune in general.

For Mr. Suu and Mrs. Truong in Nghi Thai, Nghi Loc, the knitting profession is now just a memory.

In Dien Chau district, Mr. Le Hong Nghe - Chairman of Dien Truong Commune People's Committee said: "There are currently two craft villages in the area: Quyet Thang export rattan and bamboo weaving and traditional weaving. However, both of these craft villages are currently operating at a low level, or even not operating. The reason is that there is no outlet for the products, and the working day is low, so no one is interested in the rattan and bamboo weaving profession."

Duc Phong Company Limited specializes in manufacturing lanterns and household boxes, and is the focal point for collecting products from MTD craft villages in the province. Mr. Thai Dai Phong - Director of the company admitted that every year, the export turnover of the enterprise is quite large, in the first quarter of 2016, the turnover reached 200,000 USD, mainly lanterns and gift boxes exported to Belgium, Germany, Chile, France, and IKEA Group - Sweden. Due to the lack of labor, there are many orders that the enterprise cannot meet in time and does not dare to accept.

Quynh Luu district currently has 28 craft villages recognized by the Provincial People's Committee, of which 14 are bamboo and rattan weaving villages, accounting for 50% of the total number of craft villages in the area. Among the bamboo and rattan weaving villages in the district, Dong Van bamboo and rattan weaving village (Quynh Dien) - a craft village is considered a "rare" that is currently operating effectively in the province. Photo: Viet Hung

Mr. Phong also said that the competition for labor between traditional craft villages and factories in the area, while the income from the profession is low, is the reason why many young people are not interested in the profession. Currently, craft villages are mainly elderly people, while young people do not follow the profession. The impacts of the market mechanism and the strong industrialization process have caused many traditional craft villages and MTD professions to fall into a difficult situation, many villages only preserve the old language.

The decline of MTD craft villages is an inevitable trend when entering the threshold of the integration period. However, while many craft villages are struggling, MTD Dong Van craft village (Quynh Dien, Quynh Luu) still maintains and develops, showing that the craft village still has a basis for development. The decline of traditional craft villages is also considered a test, for craft villages that really have good solutions to survive and develop.

Thu Huyen