Hanoi Uplifting Cooperative Roles in OCOP Program

The OCOP Program is the focus of rural economic development in the course of shifting from agricultural production to agricultural economic mindset. With 282 out of 1,054 OCOP-certified products, Hanoi-based cooperatives have affirmed their role in the One Commune One Product (OCOP) Program in particular and rural economic development in general.

According to the Coordination Office of the Hanoi New Rural Development Program, 64 cooperatives participating in the OCOP Program have developed 282 products since 2019. Many have numerous OCOP-certified products like Thanh Ha Agricultural Service and Production Cooperative (Thuong Tin district) with 30 products, and Cuoi Quy Hi-Tech Organic Vegetable Production and Consumption Cooperative (Dan Phuong district) with 17 products. Cooperatives have affirmed their position in the city's OCOP Program, which is highly appreciated by consumers.

Ms. Bui Thi Thanh Ha, Director of Thanh Ha Agricultural Production and Service Cooperative, said, with 30 vegetable products certified as 4-star OCOP products by the Hanoi People's Committee, the cooperative supplies daily about 300kg of vegetable sprouts and baby vegetables such as watercress, leaf mustard, spinach and lettuce. The cooperative, which employs 20 workers, earns VND3 billion per hectare of crops a year. Mr. Phung Quoc Luong, Director of Dong Thai Business Service Cooperative, said, “By the end of 2020, Dong Thai sweet potato was certified as a 4-star OCOP product by the Hanoi People's Committee and sweet potato leaves were also recognized as a 3-star OCOP product. A sao (360 square meters) of sweet potato can generate about VND10 million of revenue a season, much higher than rice.

Needless to say, with detailed and comprehensive product classification evaluation criteria, plus guidance from authorities, cooperatives have been aware of weaknesses and strengths from which they have made adjustments to more scientific production and processing. Besides, the OCOP Program has helped cooperatives to develop product strategies for new market segments and improve product quality and brand.

However, like many other OCOP products, products made by cooperatives are having difficulty accessing new science and technology, credit sources and market development. Mr. Phung Van Ha, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nui Be Grapefruit Cooperative (Nam Phuong Tien commune, Chuong My district) hoped to receive support for access to capital, land, science and technology to improve management and production capacity to meet the increasing market demand. Responding to Ha Noi Moi Newspaper’s reporters, many cooperative representatives proposed that the city promote communications on OCOP products to consumers for easier access, choice and usage.

Highly appreciating cooperative roles in OCOP product development, Mr. Nguyen Van Chi, Deputy Director of the Standing Coordination Office for New Rural Development Program in Hanoi, said, right as the city started applying social distancing measures to prevent and control the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hanoi Coordination Office for New Rural Development Program has still organized a lot of online trade promotion and training for sales agents. For the time being, the office is preparing to organize Hanoi Online Forum 2021 in early September to match OCOP product supply and demand for organic agricultural products and foods. Mr. Pham Thanh Do, Head of Me Linh District Economic Department, said that in the coming time, the district will focus on supporting cooperatives to apply high technology and link chains for sustainable production, assisting cooperatives to select and improve OCOP products.

Continuing to promote cooperative roles in the city's OCOP Program, Deputy Director of Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Ta Van Tuong said, along with consolidating and improving working performance, developing agricultural cooperatives for stronger interconnectivity, Hanoi will foster development of general service cooperatives integrated with tourism activities and help cooperatives make more OCOP products in 2021 and beyond.

Source: Vietnam Business Forum