Hanoi: Sticky Rice Cafe?

Chi Em is exploring innovative community development ideas that could help the clients generate higher profits. Chi Em would like to enable the clients to supplement their agricultural incomes with diversified business activities. One idea is to purchase the communities’ specialty sticky rice at above-market prices and market the rice as a gourmet specialty good and a socially responsible purchase to justify an above-market price. Chi Em could sell the sticky rice at consignment at upscale joints in Hanoi. With the goal of debt alleviation without direct charity, Noong Het commune farmers will be paid an above-market price for their crops.

The rice grown in Noong Het is “8th Fragrance” grain or “ER-64.” This rice is grown in other parts of Vietnam, but the earth and elements in Dien Bien make its taste particularly fragrant. There are two harvests of regular rice annually, in May and October. The sticky rice is grown dry on hillsides and has one annual harvest.

We are aware of adverse effects from intervening in the local market and understand that it is important to tread lightly in the market without crowding out private sector suppliers. We hope to promote contractual relationships among faciliators and providers, as vague as that may sound, its a work in progress...