Difficult to raise OCOP star

- The One Commune One Product (OCOP) program implemented in recent years has made an important contribution to the development of the rural economy, raising the value of typical products in the province. However, the upgrading of products is still limited. The number of products upgraded from 3 stars to 4 stars, from 4 stars to 5 stars is still modest.

Director of Hoang Lien MC Company Limited checks macadamia products (4-star OCOP products) before delivering to customers.

The OCOP program has been implemented in the province since 2019. To date, the province has 231 products evaluated and classified (21 4-star products, 210 3-star products), of which 72 products have expired and have not been re-evaluated.

The subject is not interested

However, the star rating for these products is still modest. From 2019 to now, only 2 products have been upgraded from 3 stars to 4 stars, and no product has reached 5 stars at the national level. Particularly, from the beginning of 2025 to the end of June 2025, 2 products have registered to upgrade from 3 stars to 4 stars (files have been submitted to the Provincial OCOP Evaluation and Classification Council).

Mr. Hua Quoc Cong, Director of Dong Bang Agricultural Production and Service Cooperative, Chi Lang commune, said: At the end of 2021, with the guidance of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Chi Lang district (old), the cooperative registered custard apple products to participate in the OCOP program and achieved 3-star OCOP products. Realizing that upgrading OCOP stars plays an important role in increasing competitiveness in the market, we have implemented solutions such as improving product packaging, improving product quality... By 2022, through re-evaluation and classification, our products have achieved 4 stars. Thanks to that, product prices have increased, the consumption market has expanded to provinces and cities across the country and has been included in the supermarket system in Hanoi city. In the past 3 years, the cooperative's custard apple output has reached about 200 tons, with a value of 7 billion VND.

According to Decision No. 148/QD-TTg dated February 24, 2023 of the Prime Minister on approving the set of criteria and process for evaluating and classifying products of the OCOP Program and Decision No. 1489/QD-TTg dated July 6, 2025 of the Prime Minister on amending and supplementing a number of contents of Decision 148/QD-TTg dated February 24, 2023 on approving the set of criteria and process for evaluating and classifying products of the OCOP Program, the classification of products of the OCOP Program is based on the results of product evaluation according to the set of OCOP criteria. The total assessment score for each product is a maximum of 100 points and is divided into 5 categories, including: 5-star category has an average total score of 90 to 100 points, is a typical product, high quality standards and meets the conditions for export. 4-star class has an average total score of 70 to under 90 points, is a typical product, meets quality requirements and has good market access, has the potential to upgrade to 5-star class.

However, in addition, upgrading OCOP stars still has many difficulties and limitations, causing OCOP entities to not really care about and be proactive in implementing this content. Specifically, to upgrade the star rating, entities need to improve production processes, product packaging as well as perfect packaging designs according to high standards. At the same time, it is necessary to have documents certifying food safety, test results, traceability documents, environmental records, etc. In particular, to implement these contents, a relatively large amount of capital is needed. Therefore, although understanding the benefits of upgrading stars, OCOP entities are still not bold enough to invest.

Mr. Hoang Van Viet, Director of Ba Son Investment and Development Joint Stock Company, Tan Doan Commune, said: In 2023, the company's vermicelli product was recognized as a 3-star OCOP product, thanks to which the product consumption was very good. Through research, I learned that upgrading the star rating for OCOP products will help the product become much more competitive in the market. However, to upgrade the star rating, the facility needs to improve the production process, product packaging as well as perfect the packaging design according to high standards, large-scale production to meet market demand. However, the production of vermicelli is mainly seasonal (mainly during the Lunar New Year), so it does not meet the requirements. In addition, the cost of implementing the conditions for machinery, traceability stamps, etc. is relatively high, so the company also encounters many difficulties in implementation.

Need to invest boldly

In addition, OCOP entities operate individually and on a small scale, without cooperation or linkage between enterprises, cooperatives, and farmers. Therefore, production capacity is unstable, making it difficult to meet large, long-term orders; there is a lack of trade promotion activities and product promotion to large markets.

Yen Phuc commune people produce dried extract (3-star OCOP product)

Implementing the OCOP Program, every year, the specialized sector and the People's Committees of the (old) districts maintain the organization of classification and evaluation of OCOP products. Among them, there are OCOP products registered for evaluation to upgrade from 3 stars to 4 stars. However, some products are still limited and do not meet the criteria such as: production organization, product development, export capacity, etc.

Faced with that reality, the professional sector has actively implemented solutions. Mr. Hoang Van Chieu, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, said: In order to meet the criteria to help raise the star for OCOP products, the provincial agricultural sector has proposed many solutions such as: propaganda, training, partial funding support for labels, packaging, traceability stamps, etc. The Department also coordinated with related units to promote the subjects to proactively raise the star for OCOP, at the same time, directed the professional department to develop a plan to review products with the potential to raise the star to focus on support.

Accordingly, after reviewing, the Department of Agriculture and Environment has directed its departments and units to guide and support Duc Quy Production and Import-Export Investment Company Limited to upgrade the black jelly powder product to 5 stars. Currently, related units are consulting and supporting the company to complete the dossier to submit to the Provincial Evaluation and Classification Council for evaluation and continue to submit to the Central OCOP Evaluation and Classification Council.

To upgrade the star, the most important factor still lies in the initiative, determination and daring to invest of the subject itself. Upgrading the star is not only to "make the title beautiful" but also helps the product to elevate its brand and conquer a wider market.

Upgrading OCOP products is not only about “adding stars” to the rating board but also a measure of the comprehensive development of the product from quality, design, brand to consumption market. To do this, in addition to the companionship and orientation from the professional sector, it is necessary to have initiative from the subjects. When quality and brand go hand in hand, OCOP products will truly become the driving force for sustainable rural economic development.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/bai-chinh-kho-nang-sao-ocop-5053399.html