Developing traditional craft villages to meet market demands.

Thanh Hoa is known for its many traditional crafts and villages, some hundreds of years old, producing distinctive products that embody the cultural essence of each locality. To meet market demands and tastes, many craft villages have changed their production methods, adopting modern technology to create high-quality products in terms of both design and quality. Simultaneously, they are focusing on building e-commerce sales channels to promote their products, find markets, participate in e-commerce platforms, and utilize social media to boost the reach of their craft products.

People are inquiring about and purchasing bronze casting products from Tra Dong, Thieu Trung commune (Thieu Hoa district).

Previously, most households and production facilities in craft villages relied on manual labor and outdated, semi-automatic machinery, resulting in low labor efficiency and high manpower requirements. However, craft villages in the province are now undergoing significant transformation and strong development thanks to the application of scientific and technological advancements and technological innovation in production. In particular, the mechanical and metal casting craft villages in our province have achieved unexpected success, with many products found in most provinces and cities nationwide and even extending beyond Vietnam's borders. A prime example is the Tra Dong bronze casting craft in Thieu Trung commune (Thieu Hoa district), which has 132 establishments providing stable and regular employment for nearly 400 local workers. In recent years, thanks to the application of science and technology in copper polishing, cooling (converting power from mechanical to electrical), and the use of composite and silicon molds, as well as the application of technology to create 3D patterns, Tra Dong copper products have continuously improved in design and quality, meeting consumer tastes and serving the religious needs of customers both domestically and internationally.

For example, in the traditional fish sauce production village of Ba Lang, Hai Thanh ward, Nghi Son town, famous for its pure, high-protein fish sauce, it was considered "niche" due to its strong smell, salty taste, and often manual packaging. In recent years, many households and production facilities in the village have made positive changes to suit consumer tastes. Those involved in the craft have overcome the traditional fish sauce smell by replacing cement fermentation tanks with earthenware jars; repeatedly filtering and sun-drying the fish; applying solar panels to generate heat to warm the fermentation tanks and operate an automatic stirring system; and applying multi-enzyme microbial technology combined with temperature to shorten the protein hydrolysis process of the fish. Using a reverse osmosis filtration system, the product filters out tiny fish particles, sediment, and bacteria, resulting in a clearer and more visually appealing product than traditional fish sauce. Packaging has also undergone significant changes, such as switching from plastic bottles to glass bottles with capacities suitable for different consumer groups (gifts, daily use), and attractively designed paper bags; the bottling and labeling process has also been upgraded to automated production lines according to standards. As a result, sales volume continues to increase.

The province currently has 37 crafts and over 110 craft villages and traditional craft villages that have been recognized as meeting the prescribed criteria. Preserving and promoting the value of these crafts and craft villages is one of the important aspects of rural economic development, creating jobs for tens of thousands of local workers, contributing to the New Rural Development program, and improving the quality of life for rural people.

The development of traditional craft villages also creates valuable traditional cultural values ​​that need to be preserved. Over the years, localities in the province have consistently focused on preserving and developing traditional craft villages, as well as developing new ones. This includes concentrating on developing craft villages that produce products with high economic value, cultural content, and significant export potential. In addition, they have promoted support for product innovation and development, and the establishment of new production facilities in the localities. Simultaneously, they have emphasized the transfer of science and technology, the application of digital technology in production, and meeting international standards.

Small-scale businesses introduce, advertise, and sell their products on free channels such as Facebook, Zalo, and Lazada. Larger businesses are willing to spend money on advertising their products on online sales channels like Facebook, Zalo, and YouTube to attract customers. Many trade promotion activities through fairs and exhibitions have been organized, creating opportunities for craft villages to promote and introduce their products and seek to expand their markets.

Famous products from traditional craft villages such as Nga Son sedge mats; Tra Dong bronze casting in Thieu Trung commune (Thieu Hoa district); Khuc Phu fish sauce (Hoang Hoa district); Ba Lang fish sauce (Nghi Son town)... have transcended the confines of their villages, reaching large domestic and international markets, bringing high economic value to the products; and consequently, the lives of people in these craft villages are becoming increasingly prosperous.

Text and photos: Minh Ha

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/phat-develop-village-crafts-to-meet-market-needs-219652.htm