HA TINH – People in Phuc Trach commune, Huong Khe district make chopsticks from the root of the areca tree, earning a monthly income of 6-8 million dong.
On the afternoon of December 5, next to a fourth-level wooden house about 20 meters from Phuc Trach station, Mr. Doan Vuong Hai, 42 years old, residing in village 1 (Phuc Trach commune) and his wife Nguyen Thi Thu, 40 years old, diligently sat by the machine. manufacture chopsticks are tearful. This is the traditional profession of the village, which he and his wife have maintained for decades.
The main raw material for making is the forest areca tree, also known as the forest areca tree, which grows in the hilly areas of Huong Khe, Huong Son, and Vu Quang districts. Tree 20-30 years old, about 7 m high, trunk diameter 5-7 cm. People go to the forest to cut trees, take about 2 m from the bottom of the tree to bundle them, and bring them home to sharpen their chopsticks. Some households do not have the conditions to go to the forest, so they buy an areca to make it, costing 80,000-120,000 VND a root.
The sawmiller cut the roots into pieces about 25-30 cm long, then used a knife to split the intestines inside to create coarse chopsticks. In the past, workers used to use sharp knives to sharpen raw chopsticks, but in recent years they have switched to using iron shavings. “Put each chopstick on the planer and push it back and forth twice, the product will become smooth and slippery. In more than 2 minutes, I finished shaving one chopstick,” said Mr. Hai, saying that the chopstick cutting stage determines the aesthetic of the product. Products. Therefore, this stage requires workers to be attentive in each planing; if done too quickly, the chopsticks may be damaged or out of balance.
People in Phuc Trach commune use chopped banana leaves to put them in a bamboo basket, then put finely chopped chopsticks in the basket, rub them with gloves to create a glossy shine. Chopstick makers share, areca banana leaves are durable, used to polish for a long time. Other types of banana leaves can also be used, but are very brittle and must be changed quickly.
After polishing, the chopsticks are exposed to the sun to prevent mold, about 2-3 days in the sun, but do not dry for too long, the chopsticks will be warped. In winter, when it rains a lot and there is little sunlight, the villagers will use charcoal stoves to put chopsticks on top to dry.
Finished chopsticks are bundled into dozens of pieces depending on customer needs. A cactus root about 2 m long can create 50-60 pairs of chopsticks, selling for 4,000-5,000 VND a pair, depending on the quality and design.
“Every day, my wife and I make about 150 pairs of areca chopsticks. This is a side job besides the main business. Every day, if we work hard, we can earn more than 200,000 VND after deducting expenses,” said Mr. Hai.
The market today has many types of chopsticks made of plastic, wood, bamboo, and coconut trees, but the products of Phuc Trach commune always make their own impression. The areca chopsticks are hard and durable, have a smooth texture, eye-catching lines, and can be used for a long time.
Near Tet, many people in Phuc Trach commune work all the time because customers inside and outside the province constantly order from 100 to 200 pairs to use and as gifts. They turned on the electric lights to work through the night to deliver the goods. On this occasion, some families make chopsticks and collect 1-2 million VND per day.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Lien, the resident of Phuc Trach commune, said that making areca chopsticks is a side job in her leisure time, but gives a relatively stable income. A family with a large number of people, working hard, earns 6-8 million VND per month.
“My family has maintained a job for more than 15 years. Income from selling chopsticks can help cover many things in life and raise children to study,” said Ms. Lien.
According to Mr. Nguyen Xuan Nghia, Vice Chairman of Phuc Trach Commune People’s Committee, the profession of making areca chopsticks dates back 20 years, currently, about 20 families in villages 1 and 3 maintain.
“At this time, the profession has some difficulties due to the scarcity of raw materials. In the past, the areca tree was abundant in Huong Khe district, but now it is less and less. To have areca, people have to go to another area to find or Ordering from a partner should cost a lot,” Nghia said.
Currently, Phuc Trach commune is building a brand of chopsticks, will soon send a dossier to be recognized by Ha Tinh Provincial People’s Committee for Ocop products – Economic development program in rural areas “one product for each commune”. Follow (vnexpress)