Nghe An mountainous district exports bamboo and rattan products to France and Germany.

(Baonghean.vn) - With available raw materials, people in Ban Diem, Chau Khe commune (Con Cuong) have established a bamboo and rattan weaving group to develop the economy and export products to France and Germany.

Ban Diem is a remote border village of Vietnam - Laos, Chau Khe commune, Con Cuong district, home to more than 153 Thai and Dan Lai households.

Due to the small rice fields, taking advantage of the hilly forest area with available raw materials, the Ban Diem bamboo and rattan weaving group was established, from which members have more jobs, income, and support each other in daily life.

The bamboo and rattan weaving group in Ban Diem, Chau Khe commune (Con Cuong) is mainly composed of elderly people and single women in difficult circumstances. Photo: Tuong Vi

Established in June 2014, the Diem bamboo and rattan weaving group initially had only 17 members providing products for daily life such as fans, rattan trays, baskets, trays, sticky rice presses, etc. and has now grown to dozens of households.

Ms. Vi Thi Thanh is one of the disadvantaged members who has been helped by the bamboo and rattan weaving group. Her husband died early, leaving her to raise two disabled children alone. Life has often been difficult. Since joining the bamboo and rattan weaving group, Ms. Thanh has gradually learned and is now proficient in weaving many beautiful products with delicate patterns, earning a stable monthly income of 3 million VND.

Small basket - one of the rattan and bamboo products loved by customers. Photo: Tuong Vi

According to Ms. Lang Thi Hoa - Head of the bamboo and rattan weaving group in Diem village: Initially, there were difficulties in selling products, but later, thanks to projects and research and the introduction of brocade patterns, the new products were sold a lot at fairs, loved by many people, and income increased. Up to now, each member contributes 20,000 VND/month to help disadvantaged members in the group for interest-free loans. If raising pigs, it takes 6 months, and raising chickens, it takes 3 months to sell to pay back the principal.

To gain a foothold in the market, the rattan and bamboo weaving group has received support from the VIE 028 project, the Oxfam Hong Kong project, and the VIRI project on rural industry development in Vietnam for operating capital, training, and finding consumption markets. Thanks to that, the products are exported to domestic and foreign markets such as Germany and France. Each month, the group receives 5 to 6 orders with hundreds of products.

The income of the members has been increasing, initially from only 20,000 VND/person/day, now increased to 100,000 VND/person/day. The group has attracted 22 members, including 18 women in difficult circumstances.

The bamboo and rattan products have been diversified with 11 designs and patterns close to nature, so the products of the bamboo and rattan weaving group of Diem village are different from those of other craft groups. This difference is why the products are now loved by many people; Diem village is recognized by Con Cuong district as a craft village. The group was awarded the third prize by the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs in the 2016 "Sustainable poverty reduction and community effort development" contest.

Coming from the traditional profession of our ancestors, Diem village is a bright spot in exploiting the reasonable potential of forests and developing tourism./.

Tuong Vi