Get a master's degree to become a farmer with the nickname Dang "loofah"
The name Dang "Xo Muop" is known by many people (Tan Thang commune, Ham Tan district, old Binh Thuan province) now Son My commune, Lam Dong province (new) because Mr. Dang has the talent to turn dried loofah fibers, which are discarded by people, into high-class products, exported to the US, Korea, and Japan.
Talking to Dan Viet, Mr. Vo Xuan Dang said that he was born into a true farming family. Previously, his parents were farmers (in Tan Thang commune, Ham Tan district, old Binh Thuan province). Thanks to growing up next to the fields, next to the green squash trellis, even when he was still studying in his hometown, he had many dreams and ambitions...
In 2012, after graduating with a Master's degree in economics in Ho Chi Minh City, he stayed in the city to work for a while. In 2015, he packed his bags and returned to his hometown to find a new path right in his hometown.
Recalling the early days of starting a business with loofah, Mr. Vo Xuan Dang said that after graduating and working in Ho Chi Minh City, he saw many large hotels using loofah products to make bath sponges, back scrubbers for tourists, and household products in the kitchen.
After Mr. Dang learned that these products originated from China, while in his hometown there were many farmers growing squash, so he cherished the idea...
And one time, when Mr. Dang went to the beach near his house to play, he witnessed a lot of plastic waste floating on the white sand beaches along the coast. He felt "heartbroken" and tried to find a way to reduce the environmental impact.
Remembering the scene of farmers near his house who had grown a lot of squash for a long time but the old fruits were thrown away, which was a waste. Mr. Dang took the time to learn and then turned it into a unique, environmentally friendly product.
Turning discarded dry loofah into high-end export products
“Currently, our 'Nature and Life Production Facility', thanks to processing loofah fiber, has created stable jobs for more than 10 local workers, with a stable income of about 10 million VND/month/person.
We purchase and consume loofah fiber from farmers in Son My commune and are moving towards establishing a cooperative specializing in supplying raw materials to serve the increasingly large export market...", Mr. Vo Xuan Dang shared.
According to Mr. Dang, loofah is a natural material grown by farmers, environmentally friendly, and safe for users. The characteristics of loofah are tough, durable, quick-drying, and the ability to scrub without scratching the skin on the body, so it can create many other necessary products to serve the daily life of urban people.
Those reasons motivated Mr. Dang, with his knowledge of a master's degree in economics, to start a business making loofahs right in his hometown.
At first, Mr. Dang planted 5 sao of fragrant squash and convinced his relatives and family to invest in machinery and equipment to process the products. On average, each hectare provided Mr. Dang's workshop with more than 20,000 dried squash.
According to Mr. Dang, after harvesting, the squash will be soaked in water to soften it, to remove the sap. Then, the workers will peel off the skin and transfer it to a soaking tank to remove the flesh, then wash and dry the squash to avoid moisture and mold. All of these steps are done by hand, absolutely no detergents are used.
“For loofah to meet standards, the loofah must be large, straight, thick, white, and free of mold or bee stings. It must be processed and made into finished products within 4 months of harvest. Thanks to specialized machine technology such as sewing machines, presses, and loofah cutters, unique products such as bath sponges, slippers, and organic soap bags can be created,” Vo Xuan Dang revealed.
Many people in the area (formerly Ham Tan district, Binh Thuan province) expressed their surprise and admiration when they witnessed with their own eyes that loofah fibers, which had long been discarded, had become valuable materials for life through Mr. Dang's hands...
The leader of the People's Committee of Ham Tan district, former Binh Thuan province, said that the products made by Mr. Dang are environmentally friendly, very clean, hygienic, easy to use, have high aesthetic designs, and reasonable prices, so they are well received by customers.
Associates of Mr. Dang said that right from the first time they went out to sell, many agents agreed to cooperate with Mr. Dang's loofah products. The good news spread far and wide, Dang's environmentally friendly loofah products were favored by high-end hotels, resorts, and even the outside market.
Ms. Le Thanh Hoa, living in Thu Duc, Ho Chi Minh City, said that more than a year ago, after hearing a friend introduce loofah products, her family bought them to try for the bathroom and kitchen in the house. Unexpectedly, the product worked very well, was durable, and was clean, so since then her family has regularly ordered them for the whole family to use.
"My whole family loves to wear loofah slippers in the house. Especially in winter, wearing these slippers in the house keeps our feet very warm, my children love them...", Ms. Le Thanh Hoa shared.
Rural loofah exported to the US, Korea, Japan
Currently, loofah products produced by “Nature and Life Production Facility” of Mr. Vo Xuan Dang in Son My commune, Lam Dong province have been supplied to many large hotels and resorts in the province and major cities such as Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hanoi... According to Mr. Dang, each product has an average price of 10,000 - 30,000 VND/product.
Thanks to the quality reputation of the product, from the beginning of 2023 until now, American, Korean, and Japanese partners have ordered tens of thousands of products made from loofah each month such as bath sponges, dishwashing sponges, back scrubbers, sandal soles, children's toys, etc.
According to Mr. Dang, products exported abroad must meet strict requirements on quarantine and quality such as color, thickness, and design, so the craftsman's skills must be meticulous at every step.
Currently, Mr. Dang has invested in more machinery, improving productivity and product quality and he hopes that items made from loofah will gradually replace other products that are harmful to the environment. Besides, it will create more stable jobs for people in rural areas.
Many environmental experts say that loofah fiber has good recycling ability, the product has a long life span, so it saves costs. When consumers use loofah fiber, it creates more jobs for people in rural areas. At the same time, it reduces the waste of available agricultural resources in nature, contributing to environmental protection.
Source: https://baolamdong.vn/thac-sy-o-lam-dong-bo-pho-ve-que-bien-xo-muop-thanh-do-xuat-khau-cao-cap-sang-my-anh-383985.html
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