Muong Yen Lap ethnic women reduce poverty from turmeric

Establishing a production association and choosing turmeric starch as a startup product has helped many Muong ethnic women in Yen Lap town, Yen Lap district escape poverty and have a prosperous life. The right direction to develop local agricultural products to meet market demand has been and is showing positive results, opening up new prospects in poor rural areas...

Turmeric starch was chosen as a startup product by Muong ethnic women in Yen Lap.

In the current market, turmeric is one of the products with very high demand. This is also a familiar crop for ethnic minorities. Without requiring high technical processes, turmeric does not affect the area and productivity of traditional agricultural crops, because when growing turmeric, people can still intercrop other crops such as corn, peanuts and other crops. Recently, in Yen Lap district, turmeric cultivation and trading of processed products from turmeric are developing very strongly. However, this activity is mainly small-scale, and the output of products is still fragmented. Meanwhile, the agricultural land fund in the area that is suitable for growing turmeric is still large. After careful calculation and survey, the Women's Union of Yen Lap town decided to choose the model of producing turmeric starch and processing turmeric products in the Mit area as a start-up project under Project 8 of the National Target Program on socio-economic development of ethnic minorities and mountainous areas in the period 2021-2030.

Member of fresh turmeric processing cooperative

Giang Thuy Turmeric Starch Safe Food Production Association was established in 2017 with 5 members who are ethnic minorities in the area. After purchasing turmeric from households, the group made turmeric starch and introduced the product to agents, bringing the product to the market. With suitable soil conditions, turmeric plants on Yen Lap land have good quality and beautiful color. Thanks to the clean, chemical-free processing process, the product was quickly accepted by the market. Along with that, the Women's Union of Yen Lap town also supported the product to participate in agricultural fairs, reaching customers near and far.

The season in January and February of the solar calendar every year is the best season for turmeric, so women focus on harvesting to both make starch and accumulate. The average annual output is currently 5-6 tons. Every 10kg of fresh turmeric produces 5-6 ounces of quality starch. Red turmeric starch products cost 500,000 VND/kg, yellow turmeric starch costs 400,000 VND/kg...

Ms. Dinh Thi Bich Thuy - a member of the cooperative group shared: "Turmeric in pill and powder form is good for the stomach, colon, beautifies the skin, and enriches the blood. People with fatty blood and postpartum women are very fond of Giang Thuy turmeric starch. At first, the group members made turmeric pills by hand, which took a lot of time, and the product supply was not enough to meet the demand, so they invested in buying a turmeric pill making machine, both increasing productivity and improving quality and design. Many individual businesses and pharmacies in the area knew about the product and cooperated to provide it to customers."

The turmeric starch production model has helped increase the income of the women in the group, including 2 women who have escaped poverty. Some Muong ethnic women who participate in labor (250,000 VND/day) also have additional income to help improve their lives. In addition to the time spent making turmeric, the women in the group still participate in farming or trading.

Comrade Nguyen Thi Kim Thanh - President of the Women's Union of Yen Lap town said, "The Women's Union of Yen Lap town has many economic models to support members and Muong ethnic people in poverty reduction. Among them, turmeric starch production is a typical example. In the coming time, for long-term stable development, the Union will continue to support the association to introduce products to the market on social networking channels, e-commerce platforms, and fairs in and outside the province. At the same time, support people to change crop structure to intensively cultivate sustainable turmeric growing areas, bringing in higher incomes."

An Khe

Source: https://baophutho.vn/phu-nu-dan-toc-muong-yen-lap-giam-ngheo-tu-cay-nghe-222515.htm