Production of dried plums at Tay Bac Cooperative, Yen Chau district.

In Moc Chau district, many cooperatives have boldly invested in technology and developed OCOP products. Currently, the district has 35 OCOP products; of which, 13 products have achieved 4 stars, 22 products have achieved 3 stars. Many products have affirmed their position in the market, such as: Honey-dried plums, plum wine, dried mango, dried crispy persimmons, etc.

Recognized as one of the 12 science and technology enterprises of Son La province, the 19/5 Agricultural Development Service Cooperative has 55 members and is associated with about 200 farming households, producing 110 hectares of various crops. From the local plum raw material area, the Cooperative has invested in equipment and technology to process plum wine, plum jam, dried plums, etc. Every year, the Cooperative purchases about 400 tons of plums from farmers for processing. To date, the Cooperative owns 6 provincial-level OCOP products; of which 3 products meet 4-star standards, including honey-dried plums, ginger-dried plums, herbal-dried plums, and 3 products meet 3-star standards; including plum wine, apricot wine, and village chief wine.

Mr. Mai Duc Thinh, Director of the 19/5 Agricultural Development Service Cooperative, shared: Since 2003, the Cooperative decided to experiment with processing plums into wine products. With advice and assistance from the Department of Science and Technology, the French Asodia Organization to support in purchasing specialized equipment for distilling fruit wine and sending experts to help with processing techniques, the Cooperative has successfully produced quality plum wine products that retain their characteristic flavors.

In Yen Chau district, realizing the potential and economic value of the local single-clove garlic plant, Tay Bac Cooperative has researched and successfully manufactured a black garlic fermentation and drying machine. In 2018, the cooperative's black garlic reached consumers, with an initial output of about 1 ton/year. Up to now, the Cooperative has expanded its production scale, with 15 fermentation and drying furnaces, with a capacity of 1.5 tons/time, producing an average of 45 tons/year of black garlic products, with a turnover of over 10 billion VND.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Yen Linh, Director of the Cooperative, said: Fresh garlic after harvest is classified, washed, roots and stem ends are removed, then placed in trays and placed in the oven for 30 days until the garlic skin dries, the garlic cloves inside turn black, soft, supple and sweet. In 2020, the Cooperative registered with the District People's Committee to support the completion of the application to participate in the OCOP Program. To date, the Cooperative's black garlic products have been recognized as 3-star OCOP. In addition, the Cooperative has also developed other products such as black garlic soaked in honey, black garlic wine, On Oc ancient snow tea, dried male papaya flowers, dried bananas, and dried plums with the "Diep Bach" brand name, which are popular with consumers.

To enhance the value and competitiveness of OCOP products in the market, enterprises and cooperatives in the province have proactively implemented scientific and technological solutions. Every year, the Department of Science and Technology conducts surveys and assesses the needs of cooperatives and enterprises to support the application of technology transfer and technical advances in production and processing; guides enterprises and production units in labeling goods, product packaging designs, registering codes, barcodes, and tracing origins; building brand and trademark protection for OCOP products... Through these activities, cooperatives and production facilities have been promoted to produce OCOP products; to date, the province has 151 OCOP products, including 1 5-star product, 57 4-star products and 93 3-star products.

By 2030, the province strives to have at least 50% of 3-star OCOP products in the 2021-2025 period upgraded to 4 stars; at least 10 OCOP products meeting national 5-star standards and 40-50 OCOP products of the province exported abroad. The application of science and technology is one of the key factors to help products improve quality and competitiveness in the market.

Mr. Luu Binh Khiem, Director of the Department of Science and Technology, said: The Department continues to develop and implement scientific research topics and projects, perfect technology and apply technology to production and processing for OCOP products based on the specific needs of economic organizations. Strengthen support for enterprises, cooperatives and production establishments in creating, managing and developing intellectual property rights, tracing the origin along the value chain related to OCOP products, helping enterprises, cooperatives and production establishments to improve and improve product quality, creating a premise to promote the continued development of the province's OCOP Program.

Producing OCOP products in the direction of technology investment and production linkage not only brings high economic value and efficiency, but also helps Son La's OCOP products to position their reputation and meet market requirements.

Thanh Huyen