Visitors browse the booth showcasing typical products of Quynh Nhai district.

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

Currently, 2 out of 4 OCOP products in the district are processed from seafood, including: Da River fish cake from the business of Dao Thi Hieu and frozen Da River fish from An Binh Seafood Cooperative. In addition, businesses and cooperatives are actively developing other processed seafood products such as: fish sausage, fish floss, shrimp paste, fish rolls, dried fish, boneless catfish, dried scad, etc.

With the desire to support the consumption of seafood products from local people, Ms. Dao Thi Hieu from Muong Giang commune has created and processed fish cakes with delicious flavors, suitable for diverse tastes, and ensuring food safety and hygiene. In 2022, her Da River fish cakes were recognized as a 3-star OCOP product. Recently, her family's fish cakes and fish sausages were further recognized as two of the 25 outstanding agricultural products of Son La province in 2024.

Ms. Hieu shared: "Initially, I came up with the idea of ​​making fish cakes and fish sausages to serve my family, especially the children, because fish is a healthy food. Later, many people ordered them, praised their taste, and with the support of the district in developing them into OCOP products, I invested in more machinery and produced them according to a process that ensures food safety and hygiene. My family is now developing additional products, such as Da River fish sausages, with the goal of achieving OCOP 4-star product standards."

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

Along with developing products from aquatic products, Quynh Nhai also has OCOP products from local agricultural products and medicinal herbs. In Chieng Khoang commune, Tu Chau Cooperative has collaborated with local farmers to maintain the production of over 40 hectares of glutinous rice; cultivate 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, lantana, camphor, etc., with a production of over 1,000 liters per 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, which have been recognized as OCOP products since 2023. Regarding essential oil products, we are constantly striving to improve the production process, enhance quality, introduce and promote them at trade fairs nationwide, increase sales revenue, and receive positive feedback from consumers.

With a diverse range of typical agricultural products, Quynh Nhai district continues to conduct surveys and plan the development of products from local agricultural and aquatic products. This includes focusing on potential products such as: Thai fermented rice wine, bamboo shoots, black olives, green-necked duck eggs, boneless catfish, Nam Et oranges, Muong Gion sticky rice, indigenous black pigs, and forest honey… The district also plans to develop four more OCOP products in the near future: boneless catfish, Da River fish sausage, dried *Thien Nien Kien* (a type of medicinal herb), and ecotourism products from the Son La reservoir area.

Harvesting glutinous rice in Chiềng Khoang commune, Quỳnh Nhai district.

In addition, the district is coordinating the implementation of scientific projects on research and application of technology in the production of certain products from freshwater fish, experimental cultivation of macadamia nuts, and selection of varieties and technical methods for commercial pineapple production on sloping land. This opens up opportunities for effectively implementing the district's priority investment support policies, creating motivation for farmers to focus on production, processing, and development of high-quality products that bring high economic value.

Ms. Hoang Thi Thuy Diep, Head of the Agriculture and Rural Development Department of Quynh Nhai District, said: The department has advised on solutions for developing industries associated with building brands and trademarks for aquatic products. Along with that, it continues to survey, develop, and promote OCOP products, and develop a plan for evaluating and certifying VietGAP for typical agricultural products of the district. Priority is given to processed products, traditional products, and rural tourism products.

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

Thanh Dao