Tourists visit the booth introducing typical products of Quynh Nhai district.

The district currently maintains 275 hectares of aquaculture water surface with over 4,500 fish cages. The total aquatic product output in 2024 is estimated to reach over 1,800 tons, of which the farmed fish output is over 1,300 tons. This is an abundant source of raw materials used to process quality products, bearing the typical brand of Quynh Nhai.

Currently, 2/4 of the district's OCOP products are processed from seafood, including: Da River fish cakes of Dao Thi Hieu business household and frozen Da River fish of An Binh Seafood Cooperative. In addition, business households and cooperatives are also actively developing processed seafood products, such as: Fish sausage, fish floss, shrimp paste, fish rolls, dried fish, boneless catfish, dried oil fish, etc.

With the desire to support the consumption of seafood products of local people, Ms. Dao Thi Hieu, Muong Giang commune has created and processed fish cake products with delicious flavors, suitable for the tastes of diverse eaters, ensuring food hygiene and safety. In 2022, the Da River fish cake product was recognized as a 3-star OCOP product. Recently, her family's fish cake and fish sausage products continued to be recognized as 2 of 25 typical Son La agricultural products in 2024.

Ms. Hieu shared: At first, I came up with fish cakes and fish sausages to serve my family, especially young children, because fish is a healthy food. Later, many people ordered and praised the deliciousness and the district supported me to develop it into an OCOP product. I invested in more machines and produced it according to a process that ensures food hygiene and safety. My family is developing more Da River fish sausage products in the direction of meeting 4-star OCOP product standards.

Typical agricultural products of Quynh Nhai district are displayed and introduced to customers.

Along with developing aquatic products, Quynh Nhai also has OCOP products from local agricultural products and medicinal herbs. In Chieng Khoang commune, Tu Chau Cooperative has cooperated with farmers to maintain the production of more than 40 hectares of sticky rice; planted nearly 10 hectares of lemongrass and nearly 30 hectares of medicinal herbs under the forest canopy, used to extract more than 10 essential oil products from lemongrass, basil, five-color flowers, tangerine peel, camphor... with an output of over 1,000 liters/year.

Mr. Lo Van Thiet, Deputy Director of Tu Chau Cooperative, informed: The Cooperative currently has Chieng Khoang sticky rice and Java lemongrass essential oil products recognized as OCOP products from 2023. For essential oil products, we always strive to improve the production process, improve quality, introduce and promote at trade fairs nationwide, increase sales revenue and receive good feedback from users.

With a variety of typical agricultural products, Quynh Nhai district continues to conduct surveys, plan to build and develop products from local agricultural and aquatic products. In particular, focusing on potential products, such as: Thai yeast wine, Bat Do bamboo shoots, black Chinese jujube, green-necked duck eggs, boneless mullet, Nam Et orange, Muong Gion pom sticky rice, native black pigs, wild honey... Developing 4 more OCOP products in the coming time, including: Boneless mullet, Da River fish sausage, dried millennium and eco-tourism products of Son La lake area.

Harvesting sticky rice in Chieng Khoang commune, Quynh Nhai district.

In addition, the district coordinates the implementation of scientific projects on research and application of technology to produce some products from freshwater fish, experimental planting of macadamia varieties, selection of varieties and technical measures for commercial pineapple production on sloping land. This is an open direction to effectively implement the district's preferential investment support policies, creating motivation for farmers to focus on production, processing, and development of quality products, bringing high economic value.

Ms. Hoang Thi Thuy Diep, Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Quynh Nhai district, said: The Department has consulted on solutions for developing industries associated with building brands and trademarks for aquatic products. Along with that, it is necessary to continue to survey, build and develop OCOP products, build a plan to evaluate and grant VietGAP certification for typical agricultural products of the district. In particular, priority is given to processed products, traditional products, and rural tourism products.

Quynh Nhai is gradually building and developing typical agricultural and rural products with characteristics of the reservoir area. Promoting product branding will create momentum to encourage local production and business activities, creating sustainable income for the people.

Thanh Dao