Handmade products giving some more money for rural Cambodians
Once I came back from Ratanakiri, I stopped for a short period of time in Kratie before continue traveling to Phnom Penh in early September, I took a picture of a man who is riding his bycycle as you can see in this picture below. Handicraft (hand made) products were placed on his bycycle as he wanted to sell these products. It took long time to produce these products.
Usually, rural Cambodian people do harvesting business as core career in every year and run other micro and small business to feed their daily lives. Handicraft is one among this micro and small business. They can earn more money. They do this base on their tradition within their local communities. Some of these business have attracted attention of commune councils. Some commune councils have helped these business through their commune investment program and commune budgets. Some NGOs also help this business. The state government also helps through its sub-national branches. One village-one product is helping to promote such kind of this business. But there are more still to be done and this need strong efforts and resources.
October 2nd, 2008 at 11:36
Good to hear you mentioned “One Village One Product”, a motto and drive from Japan.
Western countries imported a lots of handicraft from Asia, but Cambodia seemed to leaving behind for fact that any wood or similar products shall be free from contamination - treated accordingly to standard required by individual country, and this is a costly business that not many business people want to do.
On the other hand, our producer seemed lacking of confident if products could not be sold within a reasonably timing then they would stop produce them and this is not good for any business people who are looking for steady and viable suppliers.
Veng Hour handicraft did produce a lots of fine furnitures but I don’t think the company did export many to western country either.
October 4th, 2008 at 11:36
People can make them. NGOs and Commune Councils help them too. “One Village One Product” Program also exists. But why those people are still poor? I think the whole system does not work well and it is necessary to ensure that all of these concerned parties work together in a systematic approach. If you know, could you point out how many villages have been designated under the one village one product program, and which kind of products are currently known as one product in one village. I know prahok from Siem Reap, Nem from Stung Treng. In kampong Chhnang, it is a place for making Chhnang and for raising crocodiles, then what should the one village one product policy be implemented. I am always positive about it, but for the sake of the discussion, we should focus and find out why the present system does not work well. No money? People have no capicity? Or one village one product leaders and staff have no capacity? How much per year the government spend on this project? Is there a separate budget for this project from the pocket of the government?
October 18th, 2008 at 11:36
hi ia m new here and just wanna say how are u guy doing?