As many as 721 ethnic households, including 706 ones from Co Tu ethnic group, in three mountainous districts in Vietnam’s central Quang Nam province have benefited from the VND40 billion ($172,000) Green Annamites project, which was funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), local media reported. The information was revealed at a conference held by the Vietnam Handicraft Exporters Association (VIETCRAFT) and Green Annamites in Quang Nam on November 18, aiming to review the one-year project on the improvement of the sustainable livelihood for the ethnic minorities via the development of medicinal plants, bamboo, and rattan. Under the project, September 2019 to November 2020, 236 households have planted and sustainably exploited 100 hectares of rattan, and 149 others have grown and processed medicinal plants, with a 65% jump in income, said a report. The project has also provided vocational training courses to 336 households, introduced 80 new designs on emissions reduction, and featured 13 firms and units with the signed contracts worth VND2 billion. VIETCRAFT will be helping increase capacity of cooperatives and establish a “one commune, one product” (OCOP) cooperative with 50 members this year, a representative for the association said. (Bao Tai Nguyen Moi Truong, baotainguyenmoitruong.vn, baodantoc.vn, baoquangnam.vn)
