Subjects are not interested in developing OCOP products

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Lo Van Tien discussed product development with OCOP entities.

Currently, Muong Cha district has 3 OCOP products certified with 3 stars at the provincial level, including: Na Sang pineapple, Kien Trung green-skin grapefruit and Hoang Tam vermicelli. In order to develop the socio -economy and increase people's income, Muong Cha district has implemented many solutions, supporting entities to build, promote and introduce local OCOP products to consumers. However, while local agricultural products have built brands and met OCOP standards, there are still limitations. In particular, the conditions and capacity of the entities are quite modest, causing many difficulties in the scale of production and development of specialty products of the district.

Mr. Tran Duc Cuong, Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Muong Cha district, shared: Except for Na Sang pineapple products, all OCOP products in Muong Cha district are developed by individuals and households. The subjects are quite enthusiastic, energetic in investing in production and actively bringing their products to the market, but the scale is still quite small. Or the establishment of cooperatives is also brothers and relatives working together and hiring workers to develop production as well as promote products, but there is no connection between producers. In fact, OCOP subjects in the district are mainly household-sized and have limited financial potential, qualifications, etc., making it difficult to develop and expand the scale of production.

With the support of the authorities and local governments, Dien Bien tea products are increasingly asserting their position in the market. *In the photo, workers of Phan Nhat Tea Company Limited prepare to package finished tea.*

Muong Nhe is a locality with many typical products that can develop OCOP standards. However, up to now, the district has only one product recognized as a 3-star OCOP product, which is Cuc Tay Ha Nhi tea. The development of OCOP products in the district is difficult partly due to the limited level, capacity and participation of the subjects.

Sharing about the difficulties in implementing the OCOP program, Mr. Nguyen Van Thang, Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Muong Nhe district, said: Most of the production households in the district are small and fragmented. The subjects have not really paid attention to the form of the product. Design and labeling have not been focused on; even the requirements for food safety certification and traceability have not been guaranteed... leading to difficulties for Muong Nhe's OCOP products to develop and spread widely in the market.

Dien Bien has had 56 OCOP products introduced and promoted at trade fairs and exhibitions. Along with the development of local specialty products that meet OCOP standards, localities have paid much attention to the work of introducing, promoting, promoting trade, and expanding the market for OCOP products. However, due to the limitations of the subjects, OCOP products have not developed sustainably, lacking promotion, introduction as well as building raw material areas... Most OCOP subjects have not been proactive in building, developing raw material areas and applying scientific advances in production. Product designs, labels and packaging are not complete, lacking in eye-catching and impressive. Subjects have not paid attention to building brands, enhancing product value; Lack of initiative in trade promotion, product promotion to consumers... Although the Department of Industry and Trade regularly sends invitations and encourages participation in trade promotion events to promote and introduce products to distribution businesses and consumers, the number of OCOP entities registering to participate is still low.

Although it has been recognized as an OCOP product, to save costs, people do not pay attention to labeling Na Sang pineapple as an OCOP product.

Analyzing the participation in trade promotion, stimulating product consumption to attract consumers of OCOP subjects in the province, Mr. Trinh Huy Dong, Deputy Director of the Trade Promotion Center (Department of Industry and Trade) said: The subjects of the OCOP economic program are small and very small; the capacity of organizing and participating in trade promotion activities of OCOP subjects is still weak, thus having a significant impact on supporting consumption connections and expanding the market for OCOP products of the province. We have suggested that the subjects promote and introduce products through fairs and exhibitions so that the image of OCOP products of the province reaches consumers and the market. However, up to now, most OCOP entities in the province have not paid attention to investing resources in trade promotion, and have not proactively organized trade promotion activities, such as: demonstration programs, product introductions, connection activities, promotions in modern distribution and retail channels... to attract the attention and interest of consumers.

Faced with the above limitations, in the coming time, together with the participation of functional sectors and local authorities, the initiative and determination of the subjects are needed to enhance the value and affirm the brand of local specialty products in the market. To do that, the subjects must focus on investing in development, expanding production according to standards, intensively applying scientific and technological advances to improve product quality and design, and actively participating in trade promotion... to develop the province's OCOP products widely and sustainably.

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