Application of production technology in craft villages

(Baonghean) - In order to meet development needs, many traditional craft villages in Quynh Luu have innovated technology, applied science and technology to increase productivity and enhance product competitiveness.

Previously, Mr. Le Van Hao’s wooden handicraft production facility in Quynh Hung commune mainly produced products by hand. To ensure the correct order, he had to hire 10 workers to work regularly with a salary of 5-6 million VND/person/month. During a visit to a wooden handicraft production facility in Nam Dinh province, Mr. Hao learned about how to innovate methods and apply technology to production.

With the money he has saved over the years, from 2013 to now, he has continuously bought 5 computerized wood carving machines worth nearly 500 million VND for use. With the new equipment, just by pressing a button, the machine will automatically carve all the details of the product, helping to reduce labor, increase productivity, increase product uniformity, reduce costs, and increase competitiveness.

Mr. Le Van Hao - owner of a fine art carpentry establishment in Quynh Hung commune (Quynh Luu) operates a computerized wood carving machine. Photo: Viet Hung

Mr. Le Van Hao said that currently, when the demand for wooden handicraft products of the people is increasing, the pace of labor is also increased. With a computerized wood carving machine, production will be faster; one computerized carving machine is equivalent to 6 workers; the design is more precise and beautiful than using it manually.

Not only fine art carpentry, many craft villages in Quynh Luu are now gradually changing their methods and applying new technologies to production. According to statistics, the whole district has 30 craft villages recognized by the province with 7 main industries: fine art carpentry, unburnt bricks, bamboo and rattan weaving, seafood processing, boat repair, ornamental plants, and vermicelli production. Of these, 5 types of occupations have been approached by people with techniques and machinery to increase labor productivity.

For example, the bamboo and rattan weaving craft in Quynh Dien commune; previously, workers mainly made lanterns by hand. Since 2010, the locality has allocated the budget to buy 6 splitting and shaving machines with a total value of nearly 100 million VND to equip the craft villages in the commune to operate; Since having the machines, the work has been done quickly, the products have beautiful designs and models, and are well received by the market.

In the seafood processing industry, instead of using ice to preserve seafood like before, most people have now invested hundreds of millions of dong to buy freezers. With this type of machine, seafood can be preserved for many months without spoiling.

Especially in the unburnt brick making village of Quynh Van commune, in the past, people used clay as raw material and then burned it for many days in a furnace, causing environmental pollution. Currently, hundreds of production facilities use machines. With this machine, the products are guaranteed to be sturdy, serving the construction of solid structures.

By applying technology and machinery to production, many craft villages in the district are proving their effectiveness, contributing to increasing people's income. Currently, the average income of workers in craft villages in 2017 reached 30 - 40 million VND/person/year; the fine art carpentry profession alone brought in an income of 40 - 50 million VND/person/year.

Bamboo and rattan lanterns in Quynh Dien commune are delicately and meticulously woven by craftsmen thanks to the technology of splitting and whittling bamboo strips by machine. Photo: Viet Hung

The effectiveness of innovating production methods in developing craft villages in the district is quite clear, however, there are still craft villages facing difficulties due to lack of funds for conversion.

According to Mr. Dau Duc Nam - Head of the District Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in the coming time, the district's professional agencies will promote training and vocational training; continue to focus on capital sources to support production and business, connect banks and enterprises to create conditions for people to apply science and technology in production. In addition, strengthen trade promotion activities to promote products; arrange land to introduce craft village products, link craft village development with tourism development...

Viet Hung