Awakening homeland products
Dong Van Karst Plateau (Tuyen Quang) has a magnificent, majestic beauty but is also a harsh challenge of nature with sharp cat ear rocks all around. Living on rocks, the Co Lao people - one of the very few ethnic groups in Vietnam - have been diligently sowing seeds and cherishing every drop of life from barren land for generations.
From childhood carrying baskets to the fields, Luu Thi Hoa deeply understands the hardships of her hometown farmers. She witnessed people producing shimmering mint honey, sweet ginseng and sweet potatoes, and cool pears, but they dripped a lot of sweat and the value collected was extremely small.
During the years of studying at university in the lowlands to cover tuition fees, Hoa sold fruits herself, directly participating in many agricultural rescue campaigns. It was those trips that ignited a fire in the young girl's heart.
The more I interacted, the more worried I became: Why is my hometown's agricultural products so delicious, clean and unique but still difficult to sell, and farmers are still poor?" - that painful question urged her to leave the city and return to her hometown.
Po My Cooperative (HTX) was officially established from then on, carrying the aspiration of green startups with the goal of not only protecting the natural landscape but also enhancing the value of indigenous agricultural products, creating sustainable livelihoods for people in mountainous areas.
However, the startup path on cat ear rock has never been a rose carpet. In the early days of establishing the cooperative, the two problems that made the young female director "lose sleep and appetite" were people and transportation. In a land where most ethnic minorities are familiar with traditional farming habits, self-sufficiency, the transition to thinking about commodity agriculture, complying with the strict quality standards of a green startup model is an extremely big barrier.
The people are very hardworking but lack business skills and technology updates. In addition, the terrain is rugged, the roads are winding and cloudy, causing logistics costs to increase, directly affecting the competitiveness of products in the market.
Not succumbing to difficulties, Hoa chose to use practice to prove it. She patiently self-studied environmentally friendly farming techniques, experimenting right at her home. When she saw outstanding yield and quality and stable output, she began to share and guide people again. Along with the reputation of her mother in the village, Hoa stood out to guarantee, commit to consuming products and sign clear contracts. Gradually, the hesitation gave way to trust, people began to voluntarily participate in the cooperative's production linkage chain, opening up a completely new direction.
Elevating the local brand
Po My's goal is not to stop at selling raw agricultural products but to elevate a rudimentary product into a high-value commodity brand, capable of competing in demanding markets. The cooperative has focused on standardizing the entire process, from establishing clean raw material areas, purchasing, producing to packaging, ensuring transparency and clear traceability. In particular, Hoa always believes in entrusting the soul of national culture into each product.
I see each product as a story of the land, people and local culture. Packaging and labels not only have the function of brand recognition but are also cultural ambassadors. When products are sold, it is not only a commercial transaction but also a way for highland culture to be spread and appreciated." - Ms. Hoa proudly shared.
That humane business philosophy has created a unique attraction for Po My's products. That green startup journey has sown the most practical sweet fruits.
The story of Mr. Vu, a beekeeping household linked to the cooperative, is a clear proof. From struggling to make a living on an old motorbike for more than 10 years, now thanks to a stable income from beekeeping, he has bought the car he dreamed of. Since joining the cooperative, many farmers have for the first time learned to use smartphones to take photos and videos to send product information. Those seemingly small changes are a great step forward, helping people master technology, be more confident and proactive in their own labor.
Not only inspiring with economic development figures, Luu Thi Hoa is also a symbol of the strong resilience of highland women. She sends a message: "Don't limit yourself by circumstances or prejudices. Just dare to start and persistently learn, we can completely go far with perseverance, confidence and pride in our roots".
Looking forward to the journey ahead, Luu Thi Hoa cherishes the aspiration to create an ecosystem of products from mint honey, pears and sweet potato ginseng closely combined with experiential tourism. The dream of the Co Lao girl is to preserve the green color for the mountains and forests, spread national culture and make Dong Van Stone Plateau forever a seedling for distant aspirations.
Don't limit yourself to circumstances or prejudices. Just daring to start and persistently learn, we can completely go far with perseverance, confidence and pride in our roots.
