Bac Ninh: Taking OCOP products to a wider audience.

BAC NINH - With many practical support policies, the "One Commune, One Product" (OCOP) program has become a "launching pad" helping local products in Bac Ninh reach further and establish their brands in domestic and international markets. Many agricultural products and traditional craft villages have been upgraded in both quality and quantity, expanding their consumer markets.

Many support policies

To develop and improve the quality of OCOP products, Bac Ninh and Bac Giang provinces (formerly) have proactively developed policies to support funding for OCOP products and integrated support policies for stakeholders such as: machinery and equipment, packaging and labeling, intellectual property, trade promotion, etc. Notably, Resolution No. 67/2023/NQ-HĐND dated December 13, 2023, of the Bac Giang Provincial People's Council stipulates policies to encourage the development of OCOP products in Bac Giang province, giai đoạn 2024 - 2025; Resolution No. 16/2024/NQ-HĐND dated December 11, 2024, of the Bac Ninh Provincial People's Council promulgates regulations on support for agricultural development, the OCOP program, rural industries, and new rural construction in Bac Ninh province.

Packaging of PTK shrimp paste with braised pork product at PTK 879 Vietnam Co., Ltd. (Tien Du commune).

With access to support policies, many households, cooperatives, and businesses have changed their production mindset, focusing on improving quality and design to meet market standards. Many establishments have invested in and applied advanced production processes, achieving international certifications such as ISO 22000:2018, HACCP, VietGAP, and GlobalGAP; investing in cold drying systems for agricultural products; bottling and packaging lines; and high-tech kilns… Standardized production processes ensure food safety and hygiene, minimize environmental pollution, and thus significantly improve product quality and value.

Previously, many Bùi spring roll production facilities (Ninh Xá ward) still processed and packaged their products manually. Since participating in the OCOP program, these facilities have invested in machinery, applied food safety and hygiene standards, and printed QR code traceability labels, resulting in a significant improvement in product quality and appearance. Mr. Lê Đăng Tuấn, owner of the Bùi Tuấn Liên spring roll facility, said: “My family's Bùi spring roll product has been recognized as a 4-star OCOP product at the provincial level, received a trademark registration certificate from the Intellectual Property Office, and has been certified by the Department of Health as conforming to food safety standards. Participating in the OCOP program not only helps the facility improve quality but also provides opportunities to promote, introduce, expand the market, and build trust with consumers. Currently, Bùi spring rolls are not only consumed within the province but are also distributed to many neighboring localities such as Hanoi, Quang Ninh, and Hung Yen…”

As one of the early participants in the OCOP program, the Trai Lam Thuan Huong Noodle Production and Consumption Cooperative (Nam Duong commune) now has 4 products that have achieved 3-star and 4-star provincial standards. The cooperative continuously diversifies its products, invests in greenhouses and coating ovens certified with ISO22000:2018, and improves packaging with modern, complete information, barcodes, and QR codes for clear traceability. As a result, its noodle products are increasingly establishing their reputation and gaining the trust of consumers both domestically and internationally.

According to statistics, to date, the province has 773 OCOP products recognized as achieving 3 stars or higher. Of these, 1 product achieved 5 stars, 114 products achieved 4 stars, and 658 products achieved 3 stars. The value of these products has increased by approximately 15% compared to the previous year; contributing to increased income, improved living standards for the people, and promoting the new rural development program.

Actively promote the product.

Along with encouraging and supporting brand building, the province also promotes cooperation to exchange experiences and promote and export OCOP products to provinces and cities nationwide and abroad. Over the past 5 years, the Department of Agriculture and Environment has supported more than 100 cooperatives and businesses with approximately 350 products participating in 19 major fairs, exhibitions, and festivals in key provinces and cities such as Hanoi , Ho Chi Minh City, Quang Ninh, Can Tho, etc. Simultaneously, through important events such as the Vietnam-Korea Meeting, the Harla International Conference, and the SEA Games 31, hundreds of handbooks and thousands of leaflets introducing Bac Ninh's OCOP products have been distributed to partners and tourists both domestically and internationally.

In particular, the province has collaborated with retail corporations and supermarket chains such as Winmart, Big C, Co.opmart, Dabaco, Go!... to bring OCOP products to store shelves, while also supporting connections with e-commerce platforms such as Voso, Postmart, Lazada, and Shopee, keeping pace with the digital transformation trend. As a result, local agricultural products and specialties have stable consumption, expanding their long-term markets. Many OCOP products are not only selling well domestically but are also exported to the US, Japan, South Korea, and the EU..., affirming their value and competitiveness when invested in the right direction.

The Luc Son Agricultural Service Cooperative specializes in producing longan according to VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards, with an output of approximately 500 tons per year. The product has been granted a planting area code and recognized by the Provincial People's Committee as achieving OCOP 3-star standard, thus facilitating sales. Mr. Tong Van Binh, Director of the Cooperative, stated: “Participating in the OCOP Program has helped Luc Son longan improve its traceability, labeling, packaging, and promotion on e-commerce platforms, thereby expanding the market and attracting more customers both within and outside the province. Currently, in addition to the domestic market, Luc Son longan is exported to Australia.”

PTK 879 Vietnam Co., Ltd. (Tien Du commune) currently has 4 OCOP products with 4-star provincial certification and is striving to achieve 5-star national certification. To achieve this goal, the company has invested in modern machinery, built a closed production process, registered the exclusive trademark "PTK Shrimp Paste with Stewed Meat," and focused on improving quality and expanding its market. As a result, the product is increasingly delicious, with attractive packaging, and is sold at nearly 300 retail outlets in Hanoi, Dabaco supermarket system, Winmart, Co.opmart, etc., and exported to dozens of countries such as the US, Australia, Canada, China, Singapore, and Japan.

Similar to the Luc Son brand, products such as shrimp paste with stewed meat, stir-fried meat with fermented shrimp paste, dried buffalo meat, and dried pork from PTK have a wide consumer market. Thanks to the OCOP program, many of the province's distinctive products have reached far both domestically and internationally. For example, Luc Ngan lychees are not only sold fresh but are also processed into juice, dried, and frozen products, exported to Japan and the EU; processed fruit and vegetable products (sweet corn, soybeans, okra, frozen fruits, canned juices, etc.) are available in Japan, the EU, and Australia; vinegar products from Ngan Giang Company are exported to China and the Czech Republic; Dong Ho paintings and Phu Lang pottery, with their luxurious packaging, have become popular souvenirs for international tourists…

It can be affirmed that proactive policy development and implementation have become a crucial driving force in improving the quality and establishing the brand of OCOP products. With the right direction and the support of Party committees and authorities at all levels, the OCOP program will continue to help local products reach further, making practical contributions to the socio-economic development of the province.

 

Text and photos: Mai Phuong

Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/bac-ninh-dua-san-pham-ocop-vuon-xa-postid428178.bbg