After more than 6 years of implementation, the One Commune One Product (OCOP) program has spread widely, affirming the correct direction of a rural economic development program, contributing to building new rural areas effectively and sustainably.
Thanks to the implementation of the OCOP program, Dien pomelos from Yen Thuy have expanded their market. Photo: LHBoosting Income Through OCOP Program : In 2018, Hoa Binh province began implementing the OCOP program. After 7 years of implementation, 158 OCOP products have been certified with 3 stars or higher. Thanks to this program, many communes have risen out of poverty. Ngoc Luong is one of the exemplary communes in Yen Thuy district, Hoa Binh province, which has brought its local specialty, Dien pomelo, to the world stage. According to Mr. Bui Huyen, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Yen Thuy district, Dien pomelo has been grown by households in Yen Thuy for many years. However, the local pomelo product only truly became known when it received systematic investment and the first shipments were exported to Europe, gaining acceptance from the international market... “2022 was the first year Yen Thuy exported 11 tons of pomelo to the UK market. In 2023, Yen Thuy exported 50 tons of pomelo to the UK, the Czech Republic, and notably, this was also the first year that pomelo from Yen Thuy was accepted by the US market. In 2024, the locality plans to export 80 tons of Dien pomelo to these markets,” Mr. Bui Huyen shared. Mr. Huyen shared that Ngoc Luong is a mountainous commune where people previously faced many difficulties. Therefore, when the OCOP program was launched, the local government chose Dien pomelo as the commune's strength to invest in and develop. “To create a strong local product, the district has decided to establish the Dai Dong Cooperative, bringing together pomelo growers to develop together. To date, the cooperative has 29 members with about 31 hectares of Dien pomelo trees, yielding about 800 tons per year, sold in major markets such as Hanoi, Hai Phong, and Ho Chi Minh City. Notably, in 2022, for the first time, Dai Dong Cooperative's products were exported to a European country. Since then, export volume has steadily increased,” Mr. Huyen said. Evaluating the effectiveness of the OCOP program, Mr. Vu Xuan Oanh - Director of Dai Dong Agricultural Cooperative - said that previously, Dien pomelo products were only consumed locally, but after being included in the OCOP program, especially after receiving 4-star certification, Yen Thuy Dien pomelos have had wider access to markets. As a result, the income of pomelo growers has become increasingly prosperous. Many households have become millionaires thanks to pomelo farming. “With each household cultivating 1 hectare of pomelo, the harvest is approximately 500 million VND per year. After deducting expenses, each household earns over 300 million VND per year from pomelo cultivation,” Mr. Oanh informed. Unlocking Potential : Similar to Dai Dong, since participating in the OCOP program, the Cao Phong orange brand and processed orange products of Ha Phong Cooperative have grown by 200-250%, with continuously increasing revenue. The cooperative's orange cultivation area has also expanded; previously it only had 200 hectares, but now it has reached over 300 hectares. This has attracted more than 70 local laborers, contributing positively to poverty reduction for people in the commune. Mr. Hoang Van Tuan, Deputy Head of the Rural Development Sub-Department, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD) of Hoa Binh province, said that localities in the province have recognized the advantages and opportunities to exploit the value of OCOP products in conjunction with the development of rural tourism services; This has contributed to transforming production towards increased scale linked to value chains, raising income for rural people, and developing the rural economy. Not only in Hoa Binh, but the implementation of the OCOP program has created significant changes in the development of rural economies in many localities. Statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development show that currently, the whole country has 14,208 OCOP products achieving 3 stars or higher (72.3% 3-star products; 25.6% 4-star products; 2.1% 5-star and potential 5-star products) and 7,894 OCOP entities. Mr. Phuong Dinh Anh - Deputy Head of the Central Office for New Rural Development Coordination (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) affirmed: The implementation of OCOP products has contributed to increasing value, helping entities increase production scale and revenue. The percentage of OCOP producers increasing their output after receiving OCOP certification was 46.0%, with an average sales revenue increase of 29.7%; the percentage of OCOP products with increased selling prices was 50.43%, with an average price increase of 17.5%. Notably, the program has created significant changes in commerce, with OCOP products being stably distributed in supermarket systems, and widely disseminated and consumed through online sales (interaction) on social media. Thanks to this, many OCOP products have reached the global market... According to Mr. Phuong Dinh Anh, recent surveys and trials have shown that the international market demand for OCOP products is also very large, especially among Vietnamese communities in other countries... However, for OCOP products, it is necessary to focus on organizing production to meet quality requirements, technical barriers, and especially the perspective of participating in the market in a responsible, transparent, and sustainable manner...
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