Dong Thap builds new rural areas; Developing the OCOP program in conjunction with digital transformation: A breakthrough in building the rural economy.

Implementing the "One Commune, One Product" (OCOP) program with a focus on ecological agricultural development, Dong Thap is pioneering the integration of digital transformation into production, management, and consumption processes, contributing to improved product quality.

Digital transformation - the wings that enhance the value of OCOP products.

After more than 5 years of implementing the OCOP Program, the province now has 1,002 OCOP products recognized as achieving 3 stars or higher. It is estimated that by the end of 2025, the province will have 1,102 OCOP products, including: 7 5-star products, 18 potential 5-star products, 228 4-star products, and 849 3-star products from 532 participating entities, demonstrating a positive transformation in the quality and brand value of local products.

Visitors at the Hoang Khanh spring roll production facility in Lai Vung commune - a 4-star OCOP product. Photo: PV.

The program not only enhances the value of agricultural products but also promotes the formation of sustainable production-consumption chains, creating stable livelihoods for tens of thousands of rural households. This gradually realizes the goal of "farmers becoming masters, and rural areas becoming prosperous, beautiful, and civilized."

Since 2022, the province has integrated digital transformation into the OCOP program as a new pillar of development. The province has digitized product data, built a Dong Thap agricultural data platform, and integrated information on growing areas, production processes, and traceability. Currently, there are over 600 fruit-growing areas, nearly 1,000 fishing vessels, and hundreds of OCOP production facilities that have been assigned identification codes and managed on a digital system. All products are tagged with QR codes for traceability and are listed on e-commerce platforms such as Postmart, Voso, Shopee, and Lazada. Digital technology helps ensure product transparency, builds consumer trust, expands markets for businesses, and increases farmers' income.

The collaboration between Dong Thap province and technology companies to build a "Dong Thap OCOP digital map," enabling consumers to search and connect directly with producers, is a new step forward in trade promotion and local product advertising. By mid-2025, 100% of OCOP products will have QR codes for traceability, and over 70% of producers will have online stores, with many units recording a 15-25% increase in e-commerce revenue compared to the same period last year.

Thanks to digital transformation, the province now has 15% of its OCOP products exported to foreign markets, and many key export items such as seafood, rice, shrimp crackers, etc., are present in many countries, including some demanding markets such as the US, Japan, South Korea, and the EU.

Enhancing the capacity of OCOP (One Commune One Product) businesses.

To improve product quality, the province places special emphasis on training and developing management skills, digital marketing, and quality standards for OCOP (One Commune One Product) producers. From 2021 to 2025, the province organized over 150 training courses and experience-sharing workshops, with over 4,000 participants. The province also encourages young people to start innovative businesses with OCOP products, fostering a generation of dynamic "digital farmers" who master technology.

Specifically, Dong Thap province collaborated with the Vietnam E-commerce Association (VECOM) to organize a trade training course with 75 participants, including representatives from state management agencies, OCOP (One Commune One Product) entities, businesses, and commercial establishments. The aim was to equip small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and OCOP entities with additional skills, knowledge, and applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in business.

The province has established 305 community-based digital technology groups, organizing propaganda and guidance for people, production households, business households, small traders in markets, commercial centers, cooperatives, and OCOP product businesses to use the e-DongThap application, use e-wallets, and bring agricultural products to e-commerce platforms (postmart.vn). ), cashless payments… To date, 100% of OCOP products with 3 stars or more are sold on e-commerce platforms.

By 2030, Dong Thap province aims to have 1,500 OCOP (One Commune One Product) products meeting standards, including 100 products achieving 4-5 stars; and 70% of OCOP producers applying digital platforms in production and distribution. Simultaneously, the province plans to invest in an OCOP center – a smart agricultural logistics center, develop a value chain "from farm to table," and connect production with tourism and local culture.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/dong-thap-xay-dung-nong-thon-moi-phat-trien-chuong-trinh-ocop-gan-voi-chuyen-doi-so-buoc-dot-pha-trong-xay-dung-kinh-te-nong-thon-10400332.html