Looking for solutions to develop craft villages

​The craft village of mushrooms growing and preliminary processing in Long Khanh is promoting economic efficiency for the local people.

Large quantity but lack of depth is a common problem; in order to promote and remove difficulties step by step, the Provincial People's Committee has been implementing solutions to develop craft villages.

Many craft villages but lack of outstanding products

The handicraft wood craft in Binh Minh Commune, Trang Bom District has gained national reputation for many years for its rich products and dozens of establishments for fine-art wood. Some establishments already have goods for export to foreign countries with satisfactory quantity, but objectively, the wood crafting here still faces many difficulties and lacks in-depth development.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nhan, owner of Thanh Nhan fine-art wooden establishment in Tan Bac Hamlet, Binh Minh Commune, stated that most of his handicraft wood products are exported to foreign countries. However, most of them are performed in the form of outsourcing, unable to form their own brands. Due to the lack of capital to expand factories and technology, the production of the establishments in the region is mainly outsourcing. That is also the reason why Vietnamese handicraft wood is degrading its ranks because of its monotonous design and higher price than that of some regional countries such as Indonesia, Philippines, and Thailand.

The above problem is not only prevalent in handicraft wood craft but also in other craft villages in the area. According to the provincial People's Committee, the craft villages currently have not created unique, specialized, and "exclusive" products for intensive investment to enhance the value and creative feature of the products. Some rural craft villages in localities like cashew nut removal, bamboo and rattan knitting, wooden vase of fortune, sewing processing, wooden furniture production, veneer, stone sawing, etc. are just limited to simple and preliminary processing in which products are made for local or neighboring consumption, so it is difficult to establish large projects.

Besides, lack of resources to invest in modern production technology and waste and wastewater treatment systems, many craft villages do not meet the criteria for ensuring the environment. Some traditional craft villages and trades are fading, laborers are mainly old, and craft villages lack trained workers, mainly unskilled workers, etc.

Promoting development support solutions

At the end of 2020, the Provincial People's Committee issued a plan to support the development of rural industries and craft villages in the area in the period 2021 - 2025. Accordingly, the conservation and development of craft villages is assigned by the provincial People's Committee to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Department of Industry and Trade to take main responsibility. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is the focal point and coordinates with other departments, branches and localities in the task of implementing plans and solutions for the development of craft villages set by the Provincial People's Committee, at the same time, to increase the survey and appraisal of craft villages as a basis for recognition, thereby focusing on support to create outstanding development.

Among dozens of craft villages in the province, there are 2 craft villages recognized by the Provincial People's Committee: Bien Hoa Pottery (Bien Hoa City) and Bau Coi mushroom growing and preliminary processing in Bao Quang Commune (Long Khanh City). Achieving trademarks and geographical indications will be very convenient for craft villages to promote, introduce and sell their products in the domestic market and for export.

For the Department of Industry and Trade, it is tasked to invest in developing infrastructure of industrial clusters and integrate industrial promotion funds to support production establishments in craft villages and rural trades, develop a plan to bring products from traditional craft villages and trades to markets, supermarkets and trade centers in the whole province, promote trade promotion, and seek markets to promote products of rural industries.

Along with the assignment of tasks for departments, branches, localities and provinces, there are also regulations on the level of development assistance. Traditional occupations and craft villages recognized by the Provincial People's Committee will be supported with 30 million VND. The recognized traditional craft villages alone will be supported with VND 45 million in direct funding for product propaganda and promotion.