Tho Xuan develops craft villages associated with new rural construction

Making rice cake with toothed leaves in Tho Lap commune.

In Tho Loc commune, the conical hat making profession brings a stable income and creates jobs for many local workers. The conical hat making profession can be done during free time and people outside of working age can also do the profession. Currently, the commune has nearly 400 households maintaining the hat making profession and creating jobs for more than 800 workers. Ms. Le Thi Minh - one of the people with many years of experience in the profession, said: "To create a beautiful hat, the hat maker must go through many stages from choosing leaves, splitting leaves, choosing frames, bending the brim, to polishing... Each stage requires the craftsman to be very careful, so that the finished product does not have a bent brim, and has a balanced and sturdy shape."

According to Ms. Minh, her family mainly produces agricultural products, but every day they still make hats and purchase products from many households in the commune to import to traders in the southern provinces at prices from 20,000 VND or more per hat.

It is known that in 2022, the conical hat making villages of village 3 and village 4 of Tho Loc commune were recognized as two traditional craft villages. Tho Loc conical hats have also been recognized as a 3-star OCOP product, which is one of the criteria contributing to the completion of the criteria in building an advanced new-style rural commune. Currently, the commune has established a conical hat production cooperative; regularly organizes training courses to improve workers' skills, improve productivity, quality, and diversify designs to meet market needs... The development of the conical hat making profession not only contributes to preserving traditional crafts but also helps diversify occupations, increase income for people, and is an important resource contributing to the socio-economic development of the locality.

Tho Xuan district is known for many traditional crafts and villages that are creating jobs for thousands of workers such as Tu Tru sticky rice cake village (Tho Dien), Tho Loc commune's conical hats, Xuan Lap commune's leaf cakes, Phu Xuan vermicelli and peanut candy, wooden products, fine art wooden products... Among them, there are many OCOP products that have affirmed their brands in the market.

With the goal of maintaining and preserving traditional occupations, craft villages, and craft villages associated with the New Rural Development Program, the district has combined capital sources to organize vocational training, support trade promotion, advertising, market development, and invest in infrastructure to serve the development of craft villages and rural industries. Mr. Le Huu Lam, owner of Lam Tham sticky rice cake establishment (Tho Dien), said: “Previously, social networks were not developed, we could only sell products directly and through the introduction of friends and relatives. Since being recognized as a traditional craft village and the sticky rice cake product was recognized as a 3-star OCOP product, advertised on social networking sites, customers have become more aware, consumption is high, and products are increasingly diverse. With increased income, I also have many favorable conditions to contribute my efforts and money to the New Rural Development Program in the locality.”

With the goal of maintaining and preserving traditional occupations and craft villages, during the process of building new rural areas, Tho Xuan district has prioritized a part of the budget to support investment in infrastructure construction, creating favorable conditions for trade of craft villages. The district has also developed a project on developing industry, small-scale industry and industrial clusters for the period 2021-2025, with financial support for the development of traditional occupations and craft villages. In addition, it directs communes and towns to create conditions for people to expand production, improve product quality, expand consumption markets, create more jobs for local workers, and increase people's income. Thereby, contributing to the implementation of criteria in building advanced new rural areas and model new rural areas.

It can be said that the development of traditional occupations and craft villages in Tho Xuan district associated with the New Rural Development has great significance both economically and socially. This is an important solution, promoting economic restructuring, increasing income, and improving the lives of rural workers. In addition, when craft villages are restored and developed with their own unique cultural features, they will become attractive tourist destinations in the locality.

Article and photos: Le Ngoc

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/tho-xuan-phat-trien-lang-nghe-gan-voi-xay-dung-nong-thon-moi-244746.htm