Linking OCOP products with poverty reduction work in Truong Son commune

BAC NINH - Located next to Tay Yen Tu mountain range, Truong Son commune (Bac Ninh) today has a new, more spacious appearance, with large, beautiful houses located right next to flat asphalt and concrete roads. Economic development from key products and OCOP products has created local livelihoods for people, aiming at the goal of sustainable poverty reduction and building a more prosperous life in this locality.

Advantages from the OCOP title

In the large factory area with modern machinery and equipment such as copying machines, dryers, packaging machines, etc., San Chi and Dao ethnic workers of Truong Son High-Tech Medicinal Materials Cooperative (Nhan Ly village) are urgently carrying out the steps to meet the year-end orders. Director of the Cooperative Nguyen Hong Duc shared: "Golden flower tea is a precious medicinal herb of the Tay Yen Tu mountain region, so we really hope to develop the product to create greater economic value and jobs for local workers. With investment in processing machinery and a guaranteed production process, in 2023 the Cooperative will bring its golden flower tea products to participate in the province's OCOP Program and be recognized as a 4-star OCOP. That is the driving force for the Cooperative to increase consumption, each year about 8 tons of fresh golden flower tea, 20 tons of golden flower tea leaves, 10 tons of medicinal herbs, dried medicinal herbs such as Morinda officinalis, Polyscias fruticosa, and Núc Nác. In 2024, the Cooperative will have an additional product of Cordyceps sinensis recognized as OCOP. Currently, the Cooperative is creating jobs for 12 regular workers and 20 seasonal workers with an income of about 6 - 8 million VND/person/month. More importantly, from developing special products The unit has created livelihoods for 100 households in the commune and neighboring areas with a medicinal herb growing area expanded to 50 hectares.

With good consumption after having OCOP products, Truong Son High-Tech Medicinal Cooperative creates many jobs for local workers.

Also wishing to increase the value of local agricultural products, Mr. Ha Van Dung, Director of Vo Tranh General Agricultural Service Cooperative (Dong Man village) invested in processing machinery to create Dung Ngan Peanut Oil products. Each year, the Cooperative produces 1,000 liters of oil, consuming about 30 tons of peanuts for farmers in the area. "Peanuts are a typical product of our mountainous region, delicious, high oil content, but the harvest time is very short, only 2 months. If only sold fresh in the field or dried products, the price is cheap, easy to be squeezed when harvesting in bulk. Processing into good quality peanut oil opens up consumption opportunities for agricultural products, at the same time creating revenue for the cooperative of about 200 million VND/year" - Mr. Dung affirmed.

Meanwhile, Mr. Tran Van Tu and Mrs. Tran Thi Thuy (Mai Suu village) meticulously researched the recipe and created a unique local specialty - nem chua rieng. This product is made from high-quality pork mixed with galangal, creating a sour, spicy, aromatic and attractive flavor. The production process of nem chua rieng Tu Thuy is carried out in a closed factory, ensuring food hygiene and safety and a preservation time of 5-7 days.

Ms. Le Thi Thuy, the business owner, shared: "From a popular product consumed locally, but with the thought of having to develop the brand, adding flavor to the parties and meals of each family, I participated in registering and evaluating the nem chua rieng product and was recognized as a 3-star OCOP in 2024. Thanks to that, the daily consumption of the product reached more than 30kg of meat. I also invested in packaging and designs to serve the need for gifts. What I hope is to be able to expand production, attract more workers to be able to register for OCOP evaluation for some of the facility's products such as ham, sausage, and Chinese sausage."

Located in an area with many economic difficulties, some cooperatives and production households in Truong Son commune have boldly invested in processing and improving production processes to create high-quality products, achieving OCOP certification. Currently, the whole commune has 7 products recognized as OCOP, highly appreciated by professional agencies for their quality and appearance. In addition to the above products, there are Luc Nam chestnuts and Mai Suu grapefruit of Mai Suu General Agricultural Service Cooperative; Golden flower tea bags of Luu Chanh Medicinal Herbs Production Cooperative.

Continue to build brands of key products

After the merger, Truong Son commune was merged from two communes Truong Son and Vo Tranh of the old Luc Nam district with 10 ethnic groups (Kinh, Hoa, Tay, Nung, San Diu, San Chi, Dao, Cao Lan, Muong, Chut). The economic structure of the commune is mainly agriculture and forestry (accounting for 55%). According to the leaders of Truong Son commune, the OCOP Program has been actively contributing to poverty reduction and social security in the locality. Through promoting brand building and developing key products associated with the value chain, many cooperatives and households have boldly shifted from small-scale production to commodity production, increasing income. In particular, developing forestry trees and specialty agricultural products with a total area of ​​fruit trees and medicinal plants of 1,866.5 hectares (fruit tree area of ​​418.5 hectares, such as: main trees: lychee, longan, mandarin orange, pomelo; area of ​​yellow flower tea, morinda, ginseng, sim... 35 hectares). The intensive cultivation value per unit area reaches 110 - 120 million VND/ha/year. Thanks to that, the number of poor households in the commune is 284/4,561 households, the poverty rate is 6.2%, on average from 2020 to now, it has decreased by 2.3%/year.

Tu Thuy galangal sour sausage is packaged and labeled to serve gift-giving needs.

The Resolution of the 1st Congress of Truong Son Commune sets the target that by 2030, the economic growth rate will strive to reach an average of 8-9%/year, and by 2027 there will be no more poor households in the area. On that basis, Truong Son Commune will promote the OCOP product development program and local specialty brands associated with poverty reduction. Specifically, support the introduction of key products (golden flower tea, honey, cordyceps, lychees, chestnuts, etc.) to participate in the 3-4 star OCOP program; standardize packaging, labels, and design identification logos. Guide households and units to register geographical indications and collective trademarks; attach QR codes to trace origins.

Build product stories associated with local culture and history combined with experiential tourism and digital media. Upgrade and expand the market to develop clean agricultural product stores, OCOP product sales points in the commune center and TL 293 routes, the road to My An Port, An Sinh Quang Ninh... Bring agricultural products - local specialties to e-commerce platforms, connect Zalo OA, Facebook, TikTok to sell Golden flower tea, Morinda officinalis, honey, peanut oil, local key products... Organize agricultural product fairs, OCOP festivals, tourism - agricultural products weeks of Truong Son commune periodically every year. Thereby, develop the effectiveness of the OCOP Program, form commodity agricultural areas, community tourism to create local livelihoods, improve people's quality of life.

 

Huyen Thuong

Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/gan-san-pham-ocop-voi-cong-tac-giam-ngheo-o-xa-truong-son-postid432550.bbg