Home Images & Videos In-depth Film Series Documents Vietnamese Value Chains

In-depth Film Series Documents Vietnamese Value Chains

Posted on 19/09/2016

From Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC):

In what may be the most comprehensive coverage of a Vietnamese development project in film to date, now after 3 years, the “Connect to Stories From the Value Chain” film series has been completed. Covering cinnamon, hemp and tea value chains in mountainous areas as part of Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation’s (SDC) Market Access For The Rural Poor programme (MARP), the short films document progress over the three years of activity from 2013 to 2016.

All the films are available on facebook as well as other media channels (see below).

Focusing mainly on value chains involving ethnic minorities, the objective to reduce poverty in 14,800 households was accomplished through interventions such as facilitating stronger links in the value chain, training and know-how, product development, sales and marketing, investment and harnessing the influence and involvement of government and other state factors.

Shot in a cinematic documentary style, each short film focuses on one element of the value chain and includes insights both cultural, personal and technical into how progress was being achieved and what barriers were being overcome.

For example, we hear from Quan (pictured below left with his family) a cinnamon grower who is facing the challenge of changing his cultivation practice passed down from previous generations to be more productive whilst protecting the soil and surrounding environment:

We also hear from textile artisan Ganh (pictured below explaining the meaning of the symbolism in hemp batik designs) who is facing the dual challenge of reinvigorating hemp making traditions in her community alongside making more attractive batik designs for the international market:

At the end of the tea film series we hear how tea picker Thuc (pictured below) now has a formal contract with the tea processor that protects her by setting fixed direct supply prices meaning she now no longer has to rely on middlemen setting inflated prices:

The 21 short films and 2 summary films are packed full of insights and information about Vietnamese ethnic minority culture, how business is done, how crops are grown and improved and how change and progress is made in a development project. The whole series is available on facebook, youtube and vimeo for anyone wanting to research value chain development or simply learn more about how some of the iconic products made and grown in Vietnam are being improved and developed and so impacting directly on people’s income and lives.

Go to the video tab on the facebook page to see all the films.

Films on other media channels: