Summary:

The traditional herbal remedies constitute a unique culture of the Red Dao ethnic in Hoa Binh province, which also provide a significant source of income for the medicinal growers and women healers. The value chains of these remedies are currently facing challenges due to the depletion of materials species, improper techniques in harvesting, processing and storage/packaging of the products and unstable market consumption. This action is built upon the results of various survey/analysis and consultations conducted in the project site, with high consent of the targeted beneficiaries and relevant actors. The project aims at addressing the identified challenges to sustain the traditional herbal remedies via a comprehensive approach, including 1) application of agroecological principles for conservation of herbal plants to sustain the material supply; 2) improve technical and organsational capacity of the local women grower/healers to ensure appropriate harvest of the plants and ensure quality of the products and 3) promote market access for stable consumption of the products with higher value added to the local growers/healers.