Science and technology boost rural industrial products

In recent times, Dong Hy district (Thai Nguyen province) has paid attention and created conditions to encourage businesses, cooperatives, and production entities to invest in applying scientific and technological advances to agricultural production. Accordingly, the locality has dozens of products certified as typical rural industrial products at all levels.

The entire Dong Hy district has had 30 products recognized by the Thai Nguyen Provincial People's Committee as typical rural industrial products at the provincial level; 8 products at the regional level; and 5 products at the national level.

Since having the first product recognized as a typical rural industrial product at the provincial level in 2014, Tuyet Huong Tea Cooperative (Hoa Trung commune, Dong Hy district) has had three products recognized as typical rural industrial products at the provincial level, one product at the Northern regional level, and two products at the national level. In particular, in 2017, the Cooperative's products were selected by the APEC Vietnam Organizing Committee as gifts for heads of state and representatives from 21 member economies.

According to Ms. Tran Thi Tuyet, Director of Tuyet Huong Tea Cooperative, the Cooperative is currently creating jobs for 17 member households and 50 affiliated households with an average income of VND 3–7 million/person/month. Over the past time, in addition to the efforts of members and affiliated households, the Cooperative has received support, encouragement, and facilitation from specialized agencies as well as the local government.

“Most importantly, people have received financial support from the state to buy vacuum machines and electric iron dryers to serve tea production and processing. Along with that, people can also participate in VietGAP tea production models and be granted growing area codes. Thereby contributing to helping the Cooperative increase productivity and product quality," said Ms. Tuyet.

Similar to Tuyet Huong Tea Cooperative, Viet Cuong Vermicelli Cooperative (Hoa Thuong town, Dong Hy district) not only takes full advantage of the experienced labor force of the craft village but also proactively applies many advanced machines to production, such as semi-automatic vermicelli drying line powered by pulleys, flour stirring machine, hydraulic press, vermicelli cutting machine, etc.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Ba, Director of Viet Cuong Vermicelli Cooperative, from the central and local capital sources, the Cooperative was supported with nearly VND 500 million to buy flour extractors and centrifugal flour purifiers. Thanks to that, the production stage can shorten the time to filter grit and clean powder and transfer and utilize workers for other departments.

"In 2023, the Cooperative's revenue reached approximately VND 16 billion, an increase of more than VND 2 billion compared to the previous year. The Cooperative is also creating jobs for 30 workers with an income of VND 7 million/person/month. The quality of people's products is qualified and exported to many international markets," Mr. Ba excitedly said.

According to Mr. Pham Van Hien, Deputy Head of the Economics and Infrastructure Department of Dong Hy district, in recent times, the local government has coordinated with the province's units and branches to support establishments and businesses in accessing mechanisms and policies on production development and building and developing brands of rural industrial products.

At the same time, the district also synchronously implemented solutions to encourage rural industrial product manufacturing establishments to invest in machinery and apply science and technology to production in the direction of expanding scale and improving product quality. Since then, the district's typical rural industrial products have gradually increased in both quality and quantity.

"Since 2016, capital sources at all levels have supported VND 3.7 billion for many cooperatives and manufacturing households in Dong Hy district to purchase production machinery and equipment to improve productivity and quality of typical rural industrial products," said Mr. Hien.

According to Mr. Ngo Xuan Huy, Vice Chairman of Dong Hy District People's Committee, in the coming time, in order for rural industrial products to develop further, the district will continue to effectively implement programs on vocational training and improving capacity and skills for workers to shift the labor structure from agriculture to industry and cottage industry.

"Along with that, the district will coordinate with departments and branches of Thai Nguyen province to pay attention to supporting businesses and cooperatives in terms of capital, techniques, technological innovation, trade promotion, as well as improving the quality of human resources and building typical rural industrial products with local strengths," Mr. Huy said.

In 2023 alone, among the 5 products of Thai Nguyen province recognized as typical rural industrial products at the national level, there are 3 products of Dong Hy district, including: Nhat Diep Hao tea of Nguyen Viet Safe Tea Cooperative; Huong Son tea of Tuyet Huong Cooperative; and Viet Cuong black garlic vermicelli of Viet Cuong Vermicelli Cooperative.