Advancing OCOP Products

Dan Phuong district has leveraged local potential to advance the One Commune One Product (OCOP) Program, earning recognition for many products. This has boosted agricultural value and fostered sustainable economic growth.

Dan Phuong district's high-tech orchid farming model in Hanoi is a prime example of modern urban agriculture

Dan Phuong district has affirmed its right economic development approach, especially through the OCOP Program. With 100 OCOP-certified products, the district not only preserves and promotes local traditional and unique cultural values, but also creates a new driving force for the rural economy.

Nguyen Thi Thu Hien, Deputy Director of the Dan Phuong Economic Office, said that the district's typical OCOP products such as mushroom products of Nghia Minh Mushroom Cooperative, Phung Thai Cam spring rolls and Bao Ngoc peanut candies have been registered with the program and the district has adopted many practical policies such as supporting packaging designs, labels and traceability stamps, and organizing fairs and exhibitions to boost product marketing. As a result, many OCOP products of Dan Phuong district have been present in large supermarket systems and are well received by consumers.

OCOP-certified products are supported to be displayed at promotional events and exhibitions organized by Hanoi City and their producers are provided with knowledge training and online marketing skills in a bid to boost production expansion, develop professional products, create jobs and increase income for workers.

Boldly registering its organic vegetables with the OCOP Program, Dang Thi Cuoi, Director of Cuoi Quy Organic Vegetable Production and Consumption Cooperative, Dan Phuong district, said: "Organic vegetables are highly appreciated by consumers. Previously, the cooperative only carried out on a small scale, with poor sales, mainly retailing to local residents and some stores in the district.

"After being guided and oriented by the Dan Phuong Economic Office to join the OCOP Program, I realized that this was an opportunity to promote products and expand the market, so I boldly registered. Currently, the cooperative has grown 5 ha of organic vegetables. Thanks to support for product marketing, commercial yield is much higher than before. Up to now, the cooperative has had 17 organic vegetable products recognized as OCOP with 3-star quality at the city level," she said.

Mr. Nguyen Van Long (Ba Duong Noi agricultural processing village, Hong Ha commune) said, after his sticky rice wine was certified as OCOP, his family's production has remained stable and grown in value. The gerbera flower of Dong Thap Gerbera Cooperative has brought in annual average revenue of VND2 billion, higher than before being recognized as an OCOP product.

Dan Hoai Cooperative, which is mainly engaged in high-tech agriculture, has produced Phalaenopsis orchids since 2004. After 15 years of production investment, the cooperative has cooperated with many leading domestic and foreign agricultural scientific agencies to apply high technology to Phalaenopsis orchid production. Currently, it is producing about 50 types of Phalaenopsis orchids. At the same time, it has also participated in many projects on high-ck orchid research, production and consumption with governmental agencies on a large scale.

Products registered to participate in the evaluation and classification of OCOP products in 2023 of the Dan Phuong district

Participating in projects has helped the cooperative gain experiences in investing in facilities, scientific and technological capabilities and managing Phalaenopsis orchid production. Since then, the cooperative has been expert in planting, tending and processing flowers in greenhouses; invested in building modern greenhouses and net houses to produce high-quality Phalaenopsis orchids on a large scale. In addition, the cooperative has applied an electronic information system using QR codes to encode imported and exported goods and provide transparent information on flower products on the market.

According to the Dan Phuong Economic Office, Dan Phuong district has had more than 56 highly appreciated OCOP products, ranked from 3-4 stars, mainly foods, beverages and ornamental plants. Twenty-one 4-star products include Phalaenopsis orchids, black tea, chicken feet, cordyceps and 35 3-star products consist of vegetables, fruits, wine, Phung nem (sliced sour pork), sweet potato and grapefruit. These products are being strongly developed by Dan Phuong district. After being certified as OCOP products, producers continue to receive support from Hanoi City and Dan Phuong in designing packaging, labels and OCOP stamps with QR codes. They are also provided with information and support to join connection programs, product exhibitions and promotion events organized by the central and municipal authorities. Dan Phuong district also connects OCOP producers with retailers such as commercial centers and supermarkets to bring products to consumers.

Brown oyster mushrooms of Nghia Minh Mushroom Cooperative achieve 4-star OCOP standard in 2023

However, Dan Phuong district has also faced difficulties in implementing the OCOP Program. Some producers and traders of agricultural products are not really interested in this program because their production scale is still small and seasonal, failing to meet large and regular market demands. Many production households do not see major benefits from this program, and they do not join as a result.

To promote its achievements and address existing limitations, in the coming time, the Dan Phuong People's Committee will continue to direct professional agencies as well as the Economic Office to coordinate with communes and towns to inform, encourage and guide people to participate in the OCOP Program

Nguyen Thac Hung, Vice Chairman of the Dan Phuong People's Committee, said: "In 2024, the district will evaluate five OCOP products and continue to persuade people to choose good products of the locality and families, especially products from traditional craft villages, to join the OCOP competition. At the same time, the district will continue to effectively implement policies to support OCOP product development, build points of sale and introduce products, and boost trade promotion to introduce its OCOP products to the market."

By Ngoc Dan, Vietnam Business Forum

The page is coordinated by the Hanoi Office of the Coordination of the New Rural Development Program