Among these models, drawing out lotus fiber for weaving lotus cloth is considered as an interesting activity to help the local women to improve their livelihoods and potentially becomes a new occupation for the local women in the future. In 2019, IUCN partnered with the Institute of Ecological Economy (ECO-ECO) to conduct training for local women on lotus fiber extraction and cloth weaving in Dong Thap Province. Since 2014, ECO-ECO – an IUCN member – initiated the idea of producing lotus cloth from lotus fiber and submitted to Ministry of Science and Technology. The project was approved and implemented since Oct 2016 with around 50 scientific researches about lotus and its characteristics, planting techniques, training on lotus fiber extraction, potential market access, etc…

In 2020, replicating the model in Dong Thap, IUCN has further expanded the training to Long An and An Giang Province. At the training, local women will be instructed to draw lotus fiber and this product is weaved in combination with worm silk (a traditional method of producing silk) for making souvenir products.

The training has trained 45 women in Thap Muoi (Dong Thap Province), Tan Hung (Long An Province), and Tinh Bien (An Giang Province) to draw lotus fiber. Lotus fiber then was tested by Khmer craftsmen in traditional brocade weaving village of Tinh Bien district to weave fabric with good quality, natural color and aroma. This mixture is highly feasible and can be developed into a new professional job for the local people in the coming time. Furthermore, the model brings environmental values added through diversifying crops for water retention strategy, biodiversity conservation, and climate change adaptation in the Mekong Delta.

Currently, the model has been receiving the strong support and participation from local people, authorities and potential customers. In the coming time, IUCN continues to collaborate with partners and members to develop the model to other provinces in the Mekong Delta, train local women and support market access. We welcome any technical and financial contribution from organization and business to realize this meaningful activity Hopefully, this unique organic textile product will be welcomed by users in the market as lotus is seen as a national flower of Viet Nam.

For more information about the project, please see brochure.