Developing local advantages to build OCOP products

The sweet tangerine trees of Nghia Hung Fruit Cooperative, Muong Coi Commune (Phu Yen, Son La) have had a long development process. Along with that, compliance with the VietGAP production process from 2019 to present has helped the cooperative's tangerine products receive high appreciation from partners and customers. The development of OCOP products is closely linked to the development of the cooperative's fruit brand. Therefore, from 2020 to present, the fruit products, especially the sweet tangerines of the cooperative, have all had high value and are favored by customers, so they are not dependent on market fluctuations.

Mr. Nguyen Duy Khanh, Director of Nghia Hung Fruit Tree Cooperative, Muong Coi Commune (Phu Yen, Son La) said: With the main products being citrus fruit trees, when we were encouraged to build and develop OCOP products, we chose sweet tangerines. In 2020, the cooperative's sweet tangerines were recognized as 3-star OCOP products. Annual output reaches 80 tons of fruit, which is not enough to supply traditional customers. Therefore, we have developed a plan to expand the area of ​​sweet tangerine planting combined with organic production. Continue to improve the quality, brand and value of sweet tangerines, thereby meeting the needs of customers in the province and outside the province.

Becoming an OCOP product has increased the value of sweet tangerines in Phu Yen. Photo: Van Ngoc

Focusing on investment, development orientation and building local agricultural products with strengths to become OCOP products to increase product value, after more than 5 years of implementing the "One Commune One Product" Program, Phu Yen district (Son La) now has 10 OCOP products rated "3 stars" or higher. This result has created motivation for the locality to continue building typical products, aiming to expand the consumption market and develop agriculture in a sustainable direction.

Talking to us about the development of OCOP products in the district, Ms. Bac Cam Thi Xieng, Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Phu Yen district, said: In the period of 2018-2020, when starting to develop OCOP products, the District People's Committee directed the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, communes and towns in the area to review the strengths and characteristics of each locality.

On that basis, evaluate products that have the potential to develop into OCOP products to focus on supporting communes, enterprises, and cooperatives to improve product quality. Up to now, the district has had 3 products achieving "4 stars", the rest achieving 3-star OCOP products, these products are continuing to be improved and enhanced in quality.

Up to now, Phu Yen district (Son La) has dozens of OCOP products. Photo: Van Ngoc

In Yen Chau district (Son La), realizing the potential and economic value of local single-clove garlic, 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 revenue 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, flexible, soft 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.

Up to now, 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 under the "Diep Bach" brand name, which are popular with consumers.

Black garlic is an OCOP product of Yen Chau district (Son La). Photo: Van Ngoc

Step by step developing OCOP products, increasing farmers' income

To enhance the value and competitiveness of OCOP products in the market, enterprises and cooperatives in Son La 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.

Guiding enterprises and production units to label goods, product packaging designs, register codes, barcodes, trace origins; build brand protection, trademarks for OCOP products... Through these activities, cooperatives and production facilities of OCOP products have been promoted. To date, the whole province has 151 OCOP products, including 1 5-star product, 57 4-star products and 93 3-star products.

To date, Son La province has 151 OCOP products, including 1 5-star product. Photo: Van Ngoc

Mr. Duong Gia Dinh, Deputy Chief of the Office of the National Target Program for New Rural Development in Son La province, informed: To improve the quality of OCOP products, Son La province has promoted propaganda work, raising awareness regularly and continuously through mass media from the province to the commune, village and hamlet levels; linking and integrating with propaganda activities in building new rural areas.

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.

According to: trangtraiviet.danviet.vn