(VOVworld) – Farmer Bui Do Hau of Thanh Oai district, Hanoi, has invented a number of automated food processing machines, which turn out higher quantity and quality than traditional methods. Manh Phuong reports:
Hau has invented machines to produce rice noodles, rice papers, and steamed rice rolls, helping people in Bich Hoa commune escape poverty. In 1981 Hau left the army for home and began to make rice noodles and steamed rice rolls. Hau realized that traditional methods were less cost-effective and less productive so he began to research an electric rice noodle making machine. After many failures, he finally succeeded after 8 years of hard work. Hau said: “My hard work and patience finally paid off. I had to borrow money from my friends and the bank.”
Hau’s rice noodle making machine needs 3 people to operate but its productivity is as much as 20 times higher than a manual process and it results in better quality, food safety, and hygiene. Hau’s machines are now available in many parts of Vietnam. In Bich Hoa commune alone there are 60 machines generating jobs and stable income for approximately 600 local workers. Nguyen Van Thoa of Thanh Luong village said he bought a rice noodle making machine for 2,000 USD. It earns him roughly 50 USD a day. He says his family’s living conditions have improved thanks to Mr. Hau’s invention: “We used to work manually and now Mr. Hau’s invention has eased our labor.”
Overseas Vietnamese in Europe, America, and Australia have also bought Hau’s machines. Nguyen Van Tam, President of Bich Hoa commune’s Farmers’ Union, said thanks to Hau’s invention, local income per capita has increased to 15 USD a day and environmental pollution has been reduced: “Mr. Hau’s invention has reduced manpower. It produces higher quality products.”
Hau is working on a closed rice paper production chain in which the papers will be machine-dried instead of sun-dried. This will ensure better food hygiene to meet export requirements. Hau’s invention has earned him state recognition as a role model inventor and an Agricultural Gold Cup Vietnam.