Developing livelihood models and creating jobs through start-up projects

Starting businesses with sustainable livelihood models not only helps entrepreneurs generate additional income but also creates jobs for many local workers. Initially, these models have shown positive signs, motivating many people to become wealthy in their own hometowns.

SHUKHA Co., Ltd. aims to create jobs for 10-20 workers by 2025 - Photo: HN

"Innovation through deep processing of bananas for the low-lying areas of Hai Phong and Hai Lang districts, Quang Tri province , and creating additional livelihoods for local workers" is one of the projects highly rated at the province's 2024 Innovation Startup Competition.

Through the creation of premium chocolate-coated banana products with various flavors, SUKHA Co., Ltd. aims to target a wide range of domestic and international customers, committed to creating products with attractive packaging and guaranteed quality. The company's main products include dried banana chips; green banana powder; and chocolate-coated dried banana chips (coming soon).

Ms. Ngo Thi Hanh (born in 1994) - the project representative - has 8 years of experience in human resource management at a software company in Da Nang . She shared: “My colleagues and I wanted to develop our hometown after working for a while, so we decided to establish SUKHA Co., Ltd. and SUKHA FARM production facility to realize this dream. Our company specializes in dried fruit snacks and healthy nutritional foods.”

According to Ms. Hanh, the project's vision is to create a flexible and sustainable agricultural development ecosystem for delta regions frequently affected by natural disasters. Through this, the project contributes to creating jobs for disadvantaged, vulnerable, or underprivileged workers in the locality; and invests in the younger generation to contribute to the development of a quality workforce for the future. Currently, the project provides employment for 3 local workers and supports 5 orphans in Hai Phong commune, Hai Lang district. The plan for 2025 is to create jobs for 10-20 workers. The company aims for a revenue target of 75 million VND by the fourth quarter of 2024, upon launch.

Hai Phong commune is a low-lying plain where the people mainly engage in agriculture. Before embarking on the project, the authors posed several questions: Would two rice harvests a year be sufficient to meet the living standards and needs of the commune's residents? What activities and resource coordination are needed to create an agricultural ecosystem that promotes community tourism? What can be done to develop additional commercial products from local raw materials to increase employment opportunities for disadvantaged families during their free time and during the flood season?

To address these questions, the group of young people decided to implement the project "Innovation through deep processing of bananas in the low-lying areas of Hai Phong and Hai Lang districts, Quang Tri province, and creating additional livelihoods for local workers".

Ms. Hanh stated that the project, implemented in Hai Phong commune, helps people earn additional income if they make good use of the abundant raw materials in the province. Specifically, Quang Tri province has a large banana growing area in Tan Long commune, Huong Hoa district, with an area of ​​over 1,800 hectares. This area is approximately 150,000 hectares nationwide (according to preliminary statistics from the Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry in 2023).

SHUKHA Co., Ltd. will purchase raw materials from farmers in Tan Long and Hai Phong communes and will have its own sustainable development policy for the people through the company's development roadmap. “Therefore, the project will not fear a shortage of raw materials for year-round production. Instead of pursuing overly familiar products like conventional dried bananas, SUKHA relies on its skilled workforce to create more innovative and creative products, which can then be sold at a higher price. Importantly, our project is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and our current production capacity,” Ms. Hanh expressed.

Since 2021, Tay Son Clean Agriculture Cooperative has successfully researched and developed fish protein as a raw material, combining it with other ingredients from agricultural products and by-products, and applying microbial preparations to create a microbial mixed feed that serves as a nutrient-rich food source for livestock farming.

By 2022, the cooperative had applied advanced technology in machinery, equipment, and packaging to produce the "Tay Son Microbial Mixed Feed" product. To date, the cooperative produces over 300 tons of Tay Son microbial mixed feed annually to serve its members and affiliated farms, contributing to a 30% reduction in production costs and minimizing environmental impacts. Recently, the Tay Son Cooperative participated in a startup competition with the project "Successfully producing Tay Son microbial mixed feed from agricultural by-products and waste for livestock farming".

According to Mr. Nguyen Dang Vuong, representative of the research team, this project aims to replicate the model of applying the Pro-QTMIC microbial preparation combined with agricultural by-products to create fish protein and other ingredients for producing animal feed with sufficient nutritional components, without relying on industrial feed. Simultaneously, it applies technological equipment to further process animal feed, extending the product's shelf life.

In addition to economic benefits, the products manufactured and marketed by Tay Son Cooperative have contributed to creating jobs for many local workers. Currently, with an annual output of over 300 tons of Tay Son microbial mixed feed, employment is secured for 25 cooperative members and affiliated farms.

According to the plan, this project will increase productivity to 500 tons by 2025, leading to increased job creation. In addition, the project aims to replicate the model of applying microbial preparations as outlined in the "Application of microbial preparations in agricultural production in Quang Tri province, 2021-2025, with a vision to 2030" plan, to farmers throughout the province.

Mr. Nguyen Dang Vuong stated: "We are ready to transfer technology to farmers in the production of organic microbial feed to help them innovate their production mindset; use agricultural products and by-products effectively, and at the same time create jobs and increase income for workers."

Minh Thao

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/phat-develop-model-of-creating-jobs-through-startup-projects-190324.htm