Mr Cat is the leader of Tan Tien village; one of the four villages involved in SRD's "Development and Conservation of Traditional Remedies and Indigenous Medicinal Plants" project in Cam An commune, Yen Bai province, and is the leader of this project in his village.

The project aims to support farmers to develop traditional health care through conserving and developing traditional remedies and medicinal plants, both for household use, and to sustain livelihoods through selling medicinal plant products to local companies. 

Together Mr Cat and his wife maintain the pilot local herbal garden for the village, which is one of the largest and most well developed herbal gardens in the commune. The garden is used as a demonstration for the villagers to see how different species of herbal plants grow in the area. The garden also functions as a nursery, and where seedlings are grown and delivered to local households for their own herbal gardens.  

Tan Tien village leader Mr Cat in his demonstration garden

Mr Cat's household uses the herbal remedies every day. "We brew the herbal plants each day, and drink like tea", he explained. "We notice that it helps us feel better at the end of a day of work, and makes us feel stronger." Mr Cat is an ex-soldier, and finds that the herbal remedies help soothe the aches and pains he has suffered since the war.

When the project commenced in April 2010, some of the villagers were initially unsure of the benefits of growing herbal plants, and as the project leader Mr Cat worked intensively with some farmers to demonstrate the benefits. Now, after attending workshops, training sessions and farmer field schools, he feels people are aware of the benefits of planting and using herbal plants, and how to cultivate them. "People's attitudes have really changed," he said. "Now people often come to discuss the project, to ask questions about different plants, and to ask for seedlings." There are now almost 50 households involved in the project in Tan Tien village.

Mr Cat is optimistic that as he increases the volume of herbal plants grown in his garden, he will be able to sell these to supplement his household's income. "Local healers are always in need of medicinal plants for traditional remedies," he said. "We will be able to meet this demand more and more, as well as supplying to pharmaceutical companies in Yen Bai. We are very happy with the positive effects that we have found from using these herbal plants, and pleased to be able to share this throughout the commune and beyond."

Local people lend a hand in Mr Cat's herbal garden