Customers visit OCOP products of Thuan Chau district at the first Son La Coffee Festival - Photo: VGP/LS

According to Mr. Lo Van Thoa, Head of the District Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Thuan Chau District Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has advised the District People's Committee to direct communes and towns to plan production areas in accordance with the potential and advantages of the locality. Integrate the implementation of production support policies, build products according to the value chain. Encourage the development of economic models of households, farms, and cooperative economies. Promote propaganda, training in professional skills, and skills to develop OCOP products; organize promotional activities and bring the district's typical products to the market.

Every year, the district assigns targets for developing OCOP products to communes and towns; directs the integration of resources to support entities in building raw material areas, packaging production facilities, ensuring food hygiene and safety, and having traceability stamps... Up to now, Thuan Chau has 8 OCOP products with 3 stars or more, actively contributing to the transformation of small-scale agricultural production to larger scale and linking along the value chain. Many products are welcomed by consumers in and outside the province and participate in export, initially affirming their brands, such as: Thu Dan Oolong Tea, Pha Din Top tourist destination, Chieng La smoked fish, Da River tilapia, Trong Nguyen tea, Phong Lai honey, Huong Doi smoked buffalo meat, Minh Tri Arabica Coffee.

In 2020, Thu Dan Oolong tea products of Thu Dan Tea Company Limited, Kien Xuong village, Phong Lai commune, were recognized as 4-star OCOP products. Each year, the Company exports 600 tons of Oolong tea to domestic and foreign markets. Mr. Pham Van Doanh, Director of Thu Dan Tea Company Limited, shared: In 2024, Oolong tea products are undergoing the process of re-evaluating OCOP products. Currently, the Company is coordinating with specialized agencies of the district to complete the evaluation and re-recognition dossier of the product, contributing to expanding the consumption market, especially large domestic supermarkets and exporting to foreign countries.

In 2024, Thuan Chau district continues to register 8 OCOP products, including 6 new products, including: Frozen whole chicken, Cha May medicinal chicken floss of Cha May Agricultural Cooperative; Khanh Ngoc medicinal wine of Hoang Khanh Ngoc business household; Mac Khen powder of Phong Lap Agricultural Cooperative; fresh taro, frozen taro bars of Hung Thinh Cooperative for production, trading of fruit trees, livestock development and general agricultural services. Re-evaluate 2 products: Pha Din Top Tourist Site, Pha Din Tourism Cooperative; Thu Dan Oolong Tea, Thu Dan Tea Company Limited.

Phong Lai honey, Thuan Chau district meets 4-star OCOP standards - Photo: VGP/LS

Accordingly, the district organized a survey, assessed the potential, financial activities, and product origin at the participating units of the program. Guided household groups, production teams, and cooperatives on product packaging, labels, traceability stamps, and procedures to be recognized as meeting food hygiene and safety requirements. Organized 3 training conferences to improve leadership and implementation capacity for over 250 cadres working on new rural construction at the commune and village levels and the "One Commune One Product" program.

Taking us to visit the Mac Khen tree garden, Mr. Lo Truong Giang, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Phong Lap Commune, said: Due to the demand for Mac Khen products, the commune encourages people to expand the planting area, intercropping with coffee trees. Currently, the commune has more than 30 hectares of Mac Khen trees, planted in Na Ban, Ta Tu, Na Khoang, Mau Thai, Pa Sang, and Lap villages. To develop OCOP products, the commune promotes households to join together to establish the Phong Lap Agricultural Cooperative. Coordinate with specialized agencies of the district to support and guide households and cooperatives to carry out the process of surveying and evaluating the potential for processing Mac Khen fruits; production process; and complete the dossier to participate in the OCOP product program.

Mr. Lo Van Hoan, Director of Phong Lap Agricultural Cooperative, said: To build a brand for mac khen fruit products, the district's specialized agencies support the cooperative in building a production workshop; provide guidance on designing packaging models for mac khen fruit products; connect with the market, and create a separate brand for Phong Lap's mac khen products.

With the goal of developing 3-4 new OCOP products each year, Thuan Chau district continues to direct the establishment of agricultural cooperatives producing organically to optimally exploit the potential, advantages and available resources of the district in developing the scale and diversity of OCOP products. Consolidate and improve the quality of recognized OCOP products. Strengthen the development of OCOP products associated with the potential strengths of the district, such as: Medicinal herbs, services, tourism. Attract investment, encourage entities to deeply process products, especially products from tea, fruit trees, livestock, for domestic consumption and to meet export needs.

According to: Government Newspaper