Expanding the reach of traditional products

By changing production methods, enhancing the application of technical advances, increasing trade promotion, especially e-commerce, searching for consumer markets, and promoting products, many traditional craft villages in the province have boldly expanded their products into larger markets, boosting revenue and solidifying their brand.

This year, members of the Da Hen Tea Production and Processing Cooperative, from the Da Hen tea craft village in Dong Luong commune, Cam Khe district, are happy because the products of their cooperative and the village have sold quite well. After years of difficulties in product sales due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recession, the production and sales situation has improved this year.

Currently, Da Hen tea craft village has over 80 households involved, with more than 100 hectares of tea under harvest. Among them, the Da Hen Tea Production and Processing Cooperative has 12 members, with a total of 24 hectares of tea being cultivated and cared for according to VietGAP and HACCP standards. Thanks to strict adherence to technical procedures, the cooperative’s tea yield reaches over 300 quintals per hectare per year. In addition to green tea products, the cooperative and the craft village also supply black tea to processing companies for export to international markets.

Each year, the cooperative supplies the market with over 1.5 tons of high-quality green tea and about 400 tons of black tea for export. When including the production from the entire craft village, the export volume of black tea reaches over 1,000 tons per year, generating revenue of over 8 billion VND annually. The average income of households in the craft village is approximately 60 million VND per household per year, while the cooperative members earn around 85 million VND per household annually.

Similar to the Da Hen tea craft village, many other craft villages in the province have boldly changed their production methods, diversified their products, and proactively promoted and introduced their products, achieving positive results. Examples include the Hung Lo rice noodle craft village in Hung Lo commune, Viet Tri city, the Thach De noodle, rice noodle, and cake processing village in Hung Viet commune, Cam Khe district, and the Do Xuyen bamboo and rattan weaving craft village in Do Xuyen commune, Thanh Ba district.

Currently, the province is home to 75 recognized craft villages. According to Mr. Vu Quoc Tuan, Head of the Rural Development Sub-Department, to survive, grow, and expand market reach, craft villages need to produce high-quality, unique products that enhance value chains and invest in improving product designs to meet consumer preferences. Craft villages also need to make efforts in finding outlets for their products through e-commerce. Bringing handmade goods to e-commerce platforms brings practical benefits, such as increasing revenue, reducing costs, promoting brands, and reaching more customers, helping traditional products reach global markets.

Phan Cuong