Vietnam

Korea is the 4th largest trading partner in Vietnam (7th in exports, 3rd in imports). However, most of Vietnam producers are suffering from poverty. This is caused by their severely low income due to unfair trading practices. Asia Fairtrade Network has been trading with Vietnamese fair trade organizations to import and sell their cashew nuts and more. From purchasing these fair trade products, you can experience high quality Vietnamese products and also contribute to fair and sustainable trade with Vietnamese farmers.

Phuoc Hung Producers’ Union

The Phuoc Hung Producers’ Union was started by 49 Vietnamese cashew nut farmers and in 2009 they decided to begin fair trade. Currently, 139 households with small cashew farms that are less than 2 hectares are growing fair trade cashew nuts. Cashew nuts grown from Phuoc Hung Producers’ Union are produced using eco-friendly farming methods, prohibiting the use of harmful pesticides, incineration, smoke emissions and the use of hazardous materials for packaging. Asia Fairtrade Network supports their fair trade premium to provide fertilizers to poor farmers in the village and also to give scholarships and bicycles in the nearby elementary schools. Recently, the fair trade premium was used to clean villages’ bumpy dirt roads. We are looking for ways to work together with responsible local producers.

Mrs. Bui Tieungohan

• My name is Bui Tieungohan living in Tien Hung village.
  I was born in 1966 and I have one son and 2 daughters. I also have a daughter-in-law and 2 grandchildren as my son got married. My husband passed away quite early in our marriage. With one of my daughters married and living separately, I am currently living with my son’s family.

• I lived in this village for the last 18 years as a farmer. I am a very small farmer growing most cashew nuts in approximately 2 hectares of land.
  I planted rubber tree in the remaining 1 hectare. I am also raising chickens and pigs to support a fairly large family on my own.

• Phuoc Hung Cashew Nut Cooperative in my village is a highly reliable fence-like organization to small-scale farmers like me.

  Although general cashew nuts merchants visit our village to purchase cashew nuts during the harvest seasons, I do not sell cashew nuts to them anymore. It is because Phuoc Hung Cooperative guarantees much better price and settles the account for the purchase immediately, freeing me from the concerns on when I will get paid. Since cashew nuts is harvested only once at the beginning of the year, the income generated at this time is very important in establishing plans for living throughout the year for my family and me. I managed to harvest about 6 tons of cashew nuts this year, which I sold to the Cooperative. Once the cashew nuts are harvested, it is necessary to remove large cashew apple and thick shells of the cashew fruit before it can be turned into the cashew nuts you see in the supermarket shelves. This will reduce the total quantity to only 1/5 of the cashew fruits I harvested.

  Phuoc Hung Cooperative holds general meetings twice a year and decisions are made on how to use the fair trade premium we receive.
  

• Although I learn about fair trade at every general meetings, I tend to forget what I learned quite easily.
  Fair trade premium is used by the Cooperative with priority in assisting the cooperative member farmers who are in more difficult situations than me.
  
  It is used to purchase organic fertilizer for the farmers with difficult economic situations particularly because organic fertilizers can be perceived as being more expensive since we do not use insecticide and chemical fertilizer at all.

  Nonetheless, I am very happy that we do not use chemical fertilizers because it is better not to use them for the health of farmers.Nonetheless, I am very happy that we do not use chemical fertilizers because it is better not to use them for the health of farmers.
  Organic fertilizers are purchased in bulks at lower price through the Cooperative. In addition, we provided support for the cost of education and donated bicycles to children of poor families at the elementary school in the vicinity. I was very proud that I was able to participate through decision made with the Cooperative together.

• Phuoc Hung Cashew Nut Cooperative gathers the cooperative member farmers to decide the price to be paid for the produces we harvest. They share information on why and how the prices is set as such and offer education on the market situations.

  Therefore, I am now able to discern the market price and situation for cashew nuts. Other ordinary merchants simply states the price without such information at all and farmers are required to oblige with such price. This is substantially different from the approach that the Cooperative takes. Although I sell majority of cashew nuts I harvested through the Cooperative, I have no choice but to sell the remaining cashew nuts to the ordinary merchants if the Cooperative is unable to accommodate them all. Therefore, I am now able to discern the market price and situation for cashew nuts. Other ordinary merchants simply states the price without such information at all and farmers are required to oblige with such price. This is substantially different from the approach that the Cooperative takes. Although I sell majority of cashew nuts I harvested through the Cooperative, I have no choice but to sell the remaining cashew nuts to the ordinary merchants if the Cooperative is unable to accommodate them all.

• I am ardently putting in efforts to grow my crops better with the desire that my children will not suffer from the poverty I experienced.

  My wishes for the year is quite simple. I was difficult to find plant protection agent or organic fertilizer whenever there is outbreak of blight and harmful insects as I do not use chemicals on my cashew trees. As such, it would be great if there is substantially less occurrence of decay and damages by blight and harmful insects. Another wish is that I can become a bit healthier since I am aging and have grandchildren. Most importantly, I sincerely hope that my grandchildren will grow in good health and better conditions.