Concerns about the rattan and bamboo weaving craft village.

(Baonghean) - How to revive the rattan and bamboo weaving craft villages is a pressing issue for the authorities and people of Nghi Loc district. While an effective solution has yet to be found, these craft villages are facing significant challenges.

These days, visiting Nghi Thai commune (Nghi Loc district), a locality famous for its traditional rattan and bamboo weaving craft, no longer reveals the image of towering piles of bamboo and the bustling atmosphere of people splitting bamboo strips and weaving products as in previous years. In Thai Loc hamlet, the cradle of rattan and bamboo weaving and the hamlet with the most households participating in the craft in the commune, Mr. Doan Huu Sam, who has been involved in the craft for over 20 years, revealed that rattan and bamboo weaving is no longer a thriving profession. In 2001, Thai Loc hamlet had about 200 households, and every household was involved in the craft. But by 2009, only over 100 households remained, and today there are only about 70. Even within these households, many only have one worker participating, who weaves baskets in their spare time to earn a little money to buy fish or vegetables, but rattan and bamboo weaving is no longer the main source of income it once was.

The people of Nghi Loc used to say: "Eat in Nghi Phu, sleep in Nghi An, work in Nghi Duc, wake up in Nghi Thai." This meant that the people of Nghi Thai worked tirelessly all night, and if day-to-day orders for rattan and bamboo products weren't enough, they would work at night. The whole village and every family worked, resulting in a decent income; many families were able to buy houses and modern conveniences. But now things are different. Very few people are still passionate about the craft. Those families who still work do so during their free time between farming seasons, utilizing the labor of the elderly and children. Mr. Sam shared: "Men and young people go to work elsewhere, earning more money. Tell me, with other jobs, you can earn at least 150,000 dong a day and rest at night. But with rattan weaving, you only earn 50,000 dong a day, and you work all night. Which would you choose?"

Weaving rattan and bamboo handicrafts in Thai Loc hamlet, Nghi Thai commune (Nghi Loc district).

In the village, Ms. Vuong Thi Hoa's family has three grown daughters, but only she continues the weaving craft. Each day, she weaves five rattan and bamboo products, but some days only one. Therefore, her income is erratic; in months when she focuses solely on weaving, she earns about 2 million dong, but in months when she works part-time, she only earns 500,000 dong. “I’ve been doing this for seven years, but I’ve never seen it so meager. Seven years ago, the price of one yến (approximately 10 kg) of rattan was 18,000 dong, but now it’s increased to 55,000 dong. Also seven years ago, a small lamp cost 25,000 dong, but now it’s still 25,000 dong. With prices like that, how can I concentrate on this craft?” Ms. Hoa said.

In the development of traditional craft villages, a crucial factor is the role of a business sponsor. For many years, the rattan and bamboo weaving village in Nghi Thai has had a strong partnership with Duc Phong Co., Ltd., from raw material supply to product distribution. This company played a significant role in reviving the village when it was on the verge of collapse in 2001. However, this partnership lacked cohesion, stability, and a balance of interests between the two parties. Duc Phong Co., Ltd. did not sign contracts with the villagers or represent them, relying only on verbal agreements. Consequently, the villagers were left to choose whether or not to work, and the company had no one to turn to for help if payments were delayed. Mr. Nguyen Manh Can, head of the purchasing team in Thai Loc hamlet, said: “Businesses constantly change their product designs; people only learn one design before they have to learn another. Furthermore, payment for purchased products is often delayed, sometimes more than a month later, while people need cash immediately. Raw materials are inconsistent, sometimes available, sometimes not. The price of raw materials is high, but the price of the finished product is low, so people are becoming less enthusiastic. Previously, the hamlet's weekly revenue was 30 million dong, but now it's only 20 million dong a month.”

When discussing these issues with the Chairman of the Nghi Thai Commune People's Committee, Mr. Dang Van Phuong shook his head and said: "The commune has been grappling with this problem for many years but has yet to find a solution. Not only Thai Loc hamlet, but 10 other hamlets, with over 500 households involved in the craft, are facing a similar situation. Everyone wants to preserve the craft and have a stable income from it, but raw materials are scarce, product prices are low, and everything depends on businesses. They sell the raw materials and buy the finished products at whatever price they want; the people have no right to negotiate. For many years, the government has implemented many policies to support and promote the development of craft villages, such as investing in transportation infrastructure, building product showrooms, and supporting vocational training through businesses. But these policies have not been effective, so people cannot feel secure enough to commit to the craft."

The situation in Nghi Thai reflects the concerns of other rattan and bamboo weaving villages in Nghi Loc district. Of the 14 rattan and bamboo weaving villages, Nghi Thai accounts for 10, while the remaining 4 are in Nghi Phong and Phuc Tho districts. According to the district's assessment, the average income for workers in this craft currently ranges from 600,000 to 2,000,000 VND per person per month. With workers utilizing their free time during the agricultural off-season and no age restrictions, the overall income per working time remains relatively high. However, it must be acknowledged that achieving 2,000,000 VND per person per month is not easily attainable for everyone. The value derived from rattan and bamboo weaving is still low, development is spontaneous, fragmented, unsustainable, and production is small-scale. Furthermore, production practices are still heavily influenced by agricultural work, linkages are weak, and designs and markets are limited, resulting in a lack of price competitiveness.

Identifying the development of rattan and bamboo weaving villages as a key priority, Nghi Loc district has proposed solutions such as addressing difficulties in raw material supply and building unique brands for rattan and bamboo weaving products in the area. In addition, it aims to form cooperative joint ventures in supplying and purchasing products from farmers, limiting monopolies in product supply, consumption, and design that reduce the productivity of village workers. However, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hai, Vice Chairman of the Nghi Loc District People's Committee, stated: "Implementing these solutions still faces many difficulties. Deciding what to invest in, whether to invest directly in the people or through businesses, remains a difficult problem for the district." While waiting for the authorities at all levels to provide an effective solution, the rattan and bamboo weaving villages in the district are slowly dying out over time.

Pham Bang