Lac Thuy District - ensuring OCOP products are more than just a title.

In a region known as the cradle of free-range chickens, sweet custard apples, and clean tea, the "One Commune, One Product" (OCOP) program was once expected to open the door for farmers to enter the market economy. However, upon closer examination of each commune, cooperative, and product, the OCOP landscape in Lac Thuy district reveals a bleak picture: some communes do not have a single OCOP product; or those that do have have products whose certification has expired.

Báo Hòa Bình•06/06/2025

Workers at Kim Boi Joint Stock Company (Lac Thuy) are packaging bamboo shoot products. Currently, the company owns a product that has received a national 5-star OCOP certification.

According to statistics from the People's Committee of Lac Thuy District, the entire district is currently managing and developing 23 OCOP products, including 2 products achieving 5-star rating, 4 products achieving 4-star rating, and 17 products achieving 3-star rating. Typical products include: Lac Thuy chicken, Song Boi tea, Dong Tam custard apple, Hung Thi honey, etc.

Some cooperatives have learned how to build value chains, from production and processing to traceability, packaging, and branding. This is a prerequisite for OCOP products to survive in the market, not just to be displayed at trade fairs.

However, in contrast to the glamour of some outstanding products, many rural areas in Lac Thuy are struggling to find a place for their local produce.

According to the report from the District People's Committee, to date, Yen Bong commune has not had any OCOP products evaluated or classified. Some other communes have products that were previously recognized, but the re-evaluation period has expired, failing to meet the re-classification requirements, or are in a state of "suspended OCOP": products exist but lack a leading organization to build the supply chain, lack raw material area codes, have not standardized packaging, and do not appear on e-commerce platforms…

"I don't know if the custard apples in Dong Bong village are still recognized as OCOP products. Because it's not mentioned anymore. The production volume is still there, the quality is still good, but the market is always fluctuating," shared Mr. Quang, a custard apple orchard owner in Dong Tam commune.

Given the above situation, according to Ms. Hoang Thi Thu Hang, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Lac Thuy District, Lac Thuy clearly identifies that in the coming period, the "One Commune, One Product" program needs to be implemented more effectively and systematically. In this, the leading role of OCOP products needs to be affirmed, especially in improving quality and evaluating product ranking.

Lac Thuy district's plan for the remaining months of 2025 is to "standardize at least two OCOP products at the provincial level or higher," while focusing on supporting communes without OCOP products to build professional brands. To realize this goal, according to the Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee, Lac Thuy will first review all recognized OCOP products, assessing the possibility of upgrading or re-ranking those whose certification has expired. Simultaneously, communes without OCOP products need to have their local specialties "named" and receive support in building value chains from scratch. Standardization of packaging, labels, planting area codes, and traceability also needs to be strengthened, as these are mandatory conditions for achieving 4-5 star ratings. The district also needs to support OCOP producers in accessing markets through e-commerce platforms, enhance product promotion through trade fairs, media, and sales linkages with businesses. In the long term, the sustainability of OCOP will depend on the capacity of cooperatives, agricultural enterprises, and the political will at the grassroots level.

In the 2025 set of criteria for advanced new rural communes, criterion number 13 – organization of production and rural economic development – is one of the biggest bottlenecks. Most communes have not yet met the requirements regarding key products, production linkages, e-commerce, or raw material area codes. Therefore, if Lac Thuy wants to have communes that meet the advanced new rural commune standards in the near future, resolving the obstacles related to the OCOP program is a task that cannot be delayed.

Minh Vu

Source: https://baohoabinh.com.vn/12/201720/Huyen-Lac-Thuy-de-san-pham-OCOP-khong-chi-la-danh-hieu.htm