Developing sustainable handicrafts to preserve identity and reduce poverty

The handicraft industry not only contributes to the livelihood of many people in Dien Bien but also serves as a bridge to bring national identity closer to domestic and foreign tourists. However, it is necessary to remove the "bottlenecks", from raw material areas, human resources, technology to consumer markets for sustainable development.

Solving employment, increasing income

Dien Bien - a mountainous border province in the Northwest, is not only famous for its heroic historical relics but also known for the diverse culture of 19 ethnic groups. With a terrain mainly of hills and mountains, the province possesses a rich natural forest ecosystem, with abundant raw materials. This is a favorable condition for the development of the handicraft industry.

Bamboo, rattan, and rattan are found in abundance in Tuan Giao, Muong Nhe, Muong Cha... and are traditional materials with high flexibility and durability for woven products, household items, and decorations. Flax, cotton, and hemp fibers are also used by Mong and Thai people to weave colorful traditional brocades. Herbs and natural dyes such as indigo, brown tubers, forest bark, etc. are exploited to dye fabrics and handicrafts. Natural forest wood, acacia wood, mahogany wood, and some other forest products are used in sculpture, hand carving, and small furniture production...

Dien Bien has great potential for developing handicraft industries.

In recent years, Dien Bien's handicraft industry has had positive developments, contributing to job creation and increasing income for workers, especially in rural areas and ethnic minority areas.

Currently, the province has about 15 craft villages, with some outstanding products such as: traditional brocade, rattan and bamboo weaving, wooden handicraft products, souvenirs combining tradition and modernity... The main consumer markets are tourists and the domestic market. Some products have initially reached the export market through tourism channels, fairs...

Preserving tradition, expanding opportunities

Despite its significant development potential, Dien Bien's handicraft industry is still facing many barriers. The raw material areas currently exist mainly at the household scale, and no concentrated specialized areas have been formed. The cultivated area is limited, the natural raw material reserves are low, while the exploitation activities are still spontaneous, exhaustive, and lack proper planning. This leads to a decline in the quality of raw materials and makes it difficult to ensure long-term stability and sustainability.

The connection between growers, miners, processing facilities and consumers is still fragmented and unstable. The mountainous terrain is rugged, many areas do not have a convenient transportation system, hindering the exploitation and transportation of raw materials to production sites. The technology of preliminary processing and preservation is backward, many raw materials such as fiber, rattan, bamboo are easily damaged, affecting the quality of finished products...

There is a serious shortage of skilled human resources, especially young workers who inherit traditional national values. Slow technological innovation; design and model make handicraft products not catch up with modern trends, still monotonous and lacking appeal to the market. In addition, difficulties in accessing the market and trade promotion activities make product brands not clearly positioned.

Dien Bien province identifies handicrafts as a potential supporting economic sector. Photo: giaoducthoidai.vn

These limitations make it difficult to ensure a stable supply of raw materials in terms of quality, quantity and price. Products lack uniformity and raw materials do not meet standards, reducing competitiveness in the market. Production chains are easily interrupted, directly affecting business plans and new product development.

Dien Bien identifies handicrafts as a potential supporting economic sector, playing an important role in preserving national cultural identity, promoting tourism development and building new rural areas. According to the representative of the Center for Industrial Promotion and Industrial Development Consulting, Department of Industry and Trade of Dien Bien, in the coming time, the province will focus on implementing solutions to preserve and promote traditional cultural values, especially the brocade weaving of the Thai, Mong, Ha Nhi ethnic groups... Exploiting the depth of indigenous culture to create products bearing strong regional imprints, with high artistic and commercial value.

At the same time, increase support for innovation in product design and models through industrial promotion programs, OCOP projects, and cooperation with schools and design institutes. Encourage creativity and application of new technology to improve aesthetics, functionality, and suit modern market tastes.

Developing raw material areas, encouraging sustainable raw material planting (bamboo, rattan, flax...). Strengthening market connections, trade promotion, product promotion at fairs, exhibitions, on digital platforms. Attracting businesses and cooperatives to invest in large-scale handicraft production, gradually building brands for local products...

In order to create momentum for the stable and sustainable development of Dien Bien's handicraft industry, the Center for Industrial Promotion and Industrial Development Consulting recommends that the Ministry of Industry and Trade and central agencies continue to pay attention to and support the province through key programs and projects such as: National Industrial Promotion Program; training projects, design models to improve skills and creativity for artisans and production facilities; connect markets, expand output for handicraft products...

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/phat-trien-thu-cong-my-nghe-ben-vung-de-gin-giu-ban-sac-xoa-doi-giam-nghe-10392921.html