The Non-Timber Forest Products Research Center under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development are mapping out an overall national program to sustainably develop the non-timber industry between 2006 and 2010.
The program will focus on diversifying non-timber forestry products (NTFPs) to satisfy export demand and encouraging local laborers to further participate in non-timber production for environmental protection and hunger elimination and poverty reduction.
According to a forecast made by the center, total production value of NTFPs will be able to reach as many as $500 million in the upcoming years, including around $150-200 million from exports.
Export products of NTFPs are mainly handicraft items made from bamboo, rattan, reed and rush, followed by honey, cinnamon and illicium. Other items are small in quantity and unstable in price.
Unfortunately, most of Vietnam’s exported NTFPs handicraft items exit in the form of raw materials or with preliminary processing treatment such as washing or drying, which leads to a low economic value, difficulties in storage, and flooding of the market during harvest time.
NTFPs can create employment and generate income for producers, especially poor farmers with limited access to education in remote and disadvantaged areas, said an official from the center.
However, overexploitation can lead to adverse environmental impact. "If harvesting of raw materials relies only on nature without good planning and production, the resource will gradually be decreased and exhausted," the official added.
The center has recently worked with localities nationwide to readjust non-timber material production acreage with an aim to prevent unplanned exploitation and ensure sufficient input materials for non-timber forestry processing factories.
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