Building a Future
On 10 January 2005 the productive sound of factory machinery was heard in Quang Tri in Vietnam as a new cassava processing plant began operations in the Hai Lang district. The opening of the plant provides exciting opportunities for both local residents and rural communities around the province.
The reason this was possible was due to the support of MAG’s donors who provided the funding for us to clear the ground of unexploded bombs so work on the plant could begin.
In a partnership with the Quang Tri Provincial Peoples Committee (PPC), clearance work began in February 2003 and was completed four months later. A total of 26 hectares were cleared, uncovering and destroying 600 items of ordnance. As part of the process 18 families were relocated to new homes built next to the plant and each was given a small-holding of land for crop cultivation. In addition the factory also employs nine members from these households.
The cassava processing plant now operating in Quang Tri thanks to MAG's clearance
Cassava is an edible root that forms the basis of a wide range of products from foodstuffs to binding agents for paper and textiles. The new plant can process up to 300 tons of cassava each day which it turns into refined starch ready for export and delivery.
Although it is still early days, between 7,000 and 10,000 people from rural communities throughout Quang Tri will grow and supply cassava for processing and more partnerships with other provinces are planned. MAG’s humanitarian work here has contributed to alleviating the poverty in the region and given the community a real sense of hope and economic stability for the future. A terrific success story for Vietnam!