When the farming area and output of lemongrass in some wards and communes of Hoa Binh city exceeded the market demand in 2015, many local households had to harvest and burn the excess. With sharp thinking and a thirst for knowledge, Nguyen Thi Binh in Thong Nhat ward found a solution, creating an outlet for lemongrass. The Dao Hamlet Agriculture Cooperative was established, paving the way to poverty alleviation for local farmers.
Nguyen Thi Binh, Director of the Dao Hamlet Agriculture Cooperative in Thong Nhat ward, talks about its efforts and achievements.
When it was newly established, the cooperative had 20 members, with Nguyen Thi Binh serving as its director. In the early days, they faced an array of difficulties due to a lack of experience, capital, and physical facilities, hence resulting cautious operations.
"In 2019, I participated in the startup and innovation contest 'Women and the Future of the Green Economy' with the idea of cultivating and processing lemongrass essential oil in a value chain to provide safe and environmentally friendly products. After winning the prize and attending the national startup day, my idea received financial support worth 150 million VND (6,186 USD) from the provincial Women's Union,” Binh shared.
Utilising the fund, cooperative members’ contributions, and bank loans, the cooperative invested in a modern lemongrass essential oil distillation line costing about 500 million VND as well as in labels and packaging.
In 2021, its lemongrass essential oil product was recognised as meeting 3-star standards under the provincial One Commune One Product (OCOP) programme. "Being recognised with the OCOP product helps elevate the value and branding of our product,” said Binh.
Currently, the cooperative has 86 members, of whom 90% are from the Dao ethnic minority group, each earning an average monthly income of 5-6 million VND. Members with poor and near-poor backgrounds have now improved their economic situation, leading more stable lives.
Trieu Thi Hoa, a cooperative member, said: "My family was poor with financial difficulties. Since joining the cooperative, we have been provided with opportunities to borrow investment capital and received support for production expenses regarding fertilisers and seedlings, and technical guidance. The outlets for the plants are also guaranteed by the cooperative. Since joining the cooperative, my family has acquired many amenities such as a television, motorbike, and small savings, gradually escaping poverty.”
According to Bui The Dung, Chairman of the Thong Nhat Ward People's Committee, the ward now houses nearly 150ha of lemongrass cultivation. The cooperative’s processing facility has helped ethnic minority people in the area get rid of poverty, earn stable jobs, increase income, and contribute to the local economy.
A seminar on promoting the startup movement among high school students has been held recently by the provincial Department of Education and Training and the Vietnam National University of Agriculture at Tan Lac High School in Tan Lac district of Hoa Binh province.
In the morning of April 24th, at Uncle Ho’s Monument on Hoa Binh Hydroelectric Project, Vietnam Youth Federation coordinated with Hoa Binh Youth Federation to organize the journey "I love my Fatherland” to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory.
From the fact that the market takes place only every Tuesday, Bo market in Van Son commune (Tan Lac) officially takes place every Sunday from March 24. Thereby, the aim is to turn the market into a place promoting the cultural identity of Muong people in Hoa Binh and the consumption of goods and products of the neighboring communes, meeting the needs of tourists for the local products when travelling to Van Son at weekends.
Nguyen Van Toan, Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee, chaired a meeting of the Steering Committee on Population and Development.
Hoa Binh province’s Department of Education and Training on April 16 held a conference on the materialisation of the Prime Minister’s directive on the further implementation of the project on the application of population database, e-identification and e-authentication for national digital transformation in the 2022-2025 period with a vision to 2030. The provincial Department of Education and Training signs cooperation agreements on cashless tuition fee collection with partners and businesses.
