Lai Chau highland women take control of the economy thanks to e-commerce

From simple livestream sessions amidst the vast clouds and mountains, it is one of many activities promoting the development of e-commerce, opening up a new direction for agricultural products in the highlands of Lai Chau, helping ethnic minority women confidently take control of their economy and gradually escape poverty sustainably.

In early November, when the fog still covered the mountains and forests of Sin Ho, Lai Chau province, Ms. Cheo My Nai, a Dao ethnic, was busy in her potato fields, which were in the harvest season. Looking at the rows of potatoes ready for harvest, Ms. Nai could not hide her joy and worry.

"The sweet potatoes grown in Sin Ho village, Sin Ho commune are suitable for the climate and soil. This year, the harvest is good, the tubers are big and beautiful. But every time we are about to harvest, my family worries about who to sell to, afraid that traders will force down the price or transport dozens of kilometers to the market but still not sell. If there is a way to help people sell their products quickly and at a good price, life will certainly be less difficult," Ms. Nai shared.

The story of “good harvest, low price” has become a long-lasting obsession for potato growers in this highland area. Many times, people have to pile up potatoes in the yard, waiting for buyers, but the price is only half of the effort put in.

That concern was gradually resolved thanks to the support of local authorities and e-commerce applications. With the background music of Mong folk songs, in the misty landscape of Sin Ho, Ms. Vu Thi Chu, a Mong ethnic, and many other women in the commune enthusiastically introduced the freshly harvested sweet potatoes through the phone screen.

Those simple livestreams unexpectedly attracted millions of views and tens of thousands of orders from all over the country. In just 2 days, 300 tons of sweet potatoes from Sin Ho people were sold out, a number far exceeding the expectations of the people involved.

This is the result of the "Sin Ho Rising Up" campaign, a joint program between the People's Committee of Sin Ho commune and TikTok Shop, to support people in promoting local culture, people and products, and at the same time promoting the consumption of agricultural products on digital platforms. Notably, 100% of the sellers participating in the livestream session are ethnic minority women living in Sin Ho.

As one of the prominent faces of the "Sin Ho rising up" community, Ms. Vu Thi Chu emotionally shared: "I never thought that one day I could sell goods to people in Hanoi and Saigon. Thanks to learning how to livestream, I have a stable income, my children can go to school fully, and I also create jobs for others. I feel more valuable and want to inspire disadvantaged women like me."

Directly participating in the livestream session, Mr. Le Ba Son, Chairman of the People's Committee of Sin Ho Commune and Ms. Luong Thi Thanh Nga, Chairman of the Commune Women's Union, introduced to consumers nationwide the nutritional and economic value of sweet potato - a typical agricultural product of the Lai Chau highlands. The livestream attracted more than 4.5 million views, bringing in hundreds of orders per minute.

"The success of the campaign shows the strong economic resilience of highland women when given the opportunity and tools to access a large market through e-commerce. Bringing wild ginseng to TikTok Shop not only brings direct economic value to the people but also opens up a new direction for ethnic minorities on their journey to participate in the digital economy," said Mr. Le Ba Son.

Faced with the fact that local agricultural products often face difficulties in consumption, recently, the Department of Industry and Trade of Lai Chau province has proactively coordinated with district and commune authorities to develop e-commerce and promote product consumption.

According to Mr. Vuong The Man, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Lai Chau province, e-commerce is becoming an inevitable direction to help the locality effectively exploit the potential of agricultural production.

"The Department has coordinated with major e-commerce platforms such as TikTok Shop, Postmart, Voso, Shopee... to introduce and sell local specialties such as Shan Tuyet tea, Tieu Hong banana, macadamia, and ginseng potatoes... online. This is an important step to help Lai Chau agricultural products reach domestic and international markets," said Mr. Man.

In addition, the Department of Industry and Trade also organized many training courses, providing guidance on online sales skills, brand promotion and geographical indication protection for people, cooperatives and small businesses. Trade promotion activities were also promoted both in the digital environment and at fairs and agricultural weeks in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring provinces.

"We identify e-commerce as not only a sales tool but also an opportunity to promote the image of Lai Chau people, culture and products to domestic and foreign friends. In the coming time, the Department will continue to accompany localities, businesses and households, promoting digital transformation in agricultural production and consumption, towards sustainable economic development," Mr. Man emphasized.

From simple livestreams in the clouds of Sin Ho to orders spreading across the country, it can be seen that e-commerce is truly opening new doors for agricultural products in the highlands of Lai Chau. Not only does it help people consume products and increase income, but it also gives them confidence, autonomy and opportunities to integrate into the digital economy.

When technology reaches every village, when women in the highlands have access to knowledge and digital tools, the journey of sustainable poverty escape for ethnic minorities is no longer a distant story, but is gradually becoming present in the mountains and forests of the Northwest.

According to VOV

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/phu-nu-vung-cao-lai-chau-lam-chu-kinh-te-nho-thuong-mai-dien-tu-197251118212812227.htm