Hung Ha: OCOP products "ride the wave" of the market.

With the Lunar New Year of the Snake 2025 fast approaching, businesses, cooperatives, and OCOP product manufacturers in Hung Ha district are busy producing and supplying products to consumers.

Moc An Nhien Agricultural and Medicinal Cooperative cultivates 2 hectares of medicinal herbs.

These days, more than 20 workers at the Moc An Nhien Agricultural and Medicinal Cooperative in Tan Tien commune are busy with production and business, the characteristic fragrant aroma of herbs wafting throughout the area. The cooperative's Ngoc Diep Tea product, recognized as a 3-star OCOP product in 2024, has affirmed its brand, increased competitiveness, and expanded its reach to various markets. Ngoc Diep Tea is produced using a closed-loop process, without the use of chemicals or artificial additives. The processing combines traditional methods with modern technology. To ensure a clean and safe source of raw materials, the cooperative has converted 3 hectares of riverside land to cultivate medicinal plants such as black sesame, Centella asiatica, Bidens pilosa, and Leonurus japonicus. Each month, the cooperative produces over 2,000 boxes of the product for the market.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hue, a member of the cooperative, said: "We are very excited that Ngoc Diep Tea has been recognized as a 3-star OCOP product. To meet orders for the end of the year, we are speeding up production and paying attention to every step to ensure a quality product for consumers."

By expanding the area for growing medicinal herbs and investing in modern machinery for local production, the Moc An Nhien Agricultural and Medicinal Cooperative is gradually building a sustainable brand and expanding its market.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Trang, Director of the Cooperative, said: "Currently, we produce five types of herbal tea. We continue to improve product quality and uphold traditional values. At the same time, we are expanding production scale so that herbal products can reach more consumers."

Joining in the festive atmosphere of Tet, production facilities such as Minh Thanh's sweet potato fries and fried corn ( Hoa Binh commune); Ngoan Tran's green sticky rice cakes (Phuc Khanh commune); Truong Thuan's peanut candy and sesame candy (Tan Tien commune); and lotus-based products from Hoa Sen Van Dai Cooperative (Chi Hoa commune)... are also rushing to complete orders to serve customers.

After two years of implementing Resolution No. 21 dated July 25, 2023, approving amendments and supplements to some contents of Resolution No. 09/NQ-HĐND dated May 15, 2023, of the District People's Council approving the mechanism to support the construction of lighting systems for "Lighting up rural roads" and support the development of One Commune One Product (OCOP) in the construction of advanced new rural areas and model new rural areas, giai đoạn 2023 - 2025, which provides 100 million VND for each product meeting OCOP standards, the entire district has reviewed and evaluated 37 products, of which 22 products in 12 communes and towns have been recognized as OCOP products, including 5 OCOP 4-star products and 17 OCOP 3-star products; these OCOP products have gradually established their brands in the market. Sales increased by 20-30%, with online sales and e-commerce platforms accounting for 30%.

Mr. Bui Hao Duong, Deputy Head of the Agriculture and Rural Development Department of Hung Ha district, said: The district's support mechanism has encouraged farmers, cooperatives, and businesses to improve processes, promote the application of science and technology in production and processing, and enhance the quality and design of products to increase the quantity, quality, variety, and value of products, contributing to maintaining and developing traditional products of the homeland to a new level.

By 2025, Hung Ha aims to have over 30 products recognized as 3-star OCOP products, 10 4-star products, and 5 5-star products. To achieve this goal, according to Mr. Nguyen Minh Hieu, Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee: Besides support mechanisms, the district will continue to promote the OCOP program; encourage businesses to boldly invest in production and develop advantageous local products; promote the transformation of crop and livestock structures, forming key commodity production areas, creating sustainable raw material zones for product processing, and facilitating production development along the value chain; and apply science and technology and access new markets through Industry 4.0. For products that have already received certification, the district will strengthen coordination in management, promotion, and trade facilitation, bringing products to participate in fairs and exhibitions inside and outside the province.