“OCOP honey” of veteran Minh Quan

The example of war veterans (CCB) who have been successful in business over the years has been mentioned many times. However, the members of the Beekeeping Cooperative in Village 5, Minh Quan Commune, Tran Yen District are a typical example that always carries within them a different passion, which is to develop the hometown honey product containing the dedication of the CCB to become a 3-star OCOP product of Tran Yen District.

Veteran Hoang Thi Lan shared with leaders of the Veterans Association of Tran Yen district, Minh Quan commune about the technical process of raising bee colonies.

As an officer who used to work at Factory Z183, after retiring, veteran Hoang Thi Lan in Minh Quan commune developed a honey beekeeping model to increase her income. Actively seeking to learn from experience, applying the correct technical process, with 120 bee colonies raised using traditional methods, Ms. Lan annually collects about 1,000 liters of honey, after deducting investment costs, bringing in an income of over 100 million VND.

Recognizing the economic efficiency of beekeeping, CCB Hoang Thi Lan mobilized CCB members in the village and commune to establish a Cooperative for Beekeeping for Honey. Operating effectively, by 2021, the Cooperative developed into a Cooperative (Cooperative) with 9 participating members; most of whom were CCB with a scale of raising 300 bee colonies.

With a large honey output and good quality, the Cooperative has successfully registered and built the Minh Quan Honey product, which is recognized as meeting the 3-star OCOP standard. CCB Hoang Thi Lan - Director of the Honey Beekeeping Cooperative shared: "My family has been raising bees in the traditional way since 2006, which is both a hobby and also increases the family's income quite well. After establishing the Cooperative, I found that the members supporting each other is very suitable, effective and the honey output is also quite good. However, to sell a lot to the market, we need to have a brand, so we have proposed to the authorities at all levels to register to build OCOP products and from 2022 to now, our honey products have been recognized as meeting the 3-star OCOP standard".

To meet the 3-star OCOP product standards, Minh Quan honey complies with regulations on output, packaging and design. Therefore, liters of honey packaged in simple plastic bottles have been replaced by liters of pure honey in glass bottles, with clear packaging and labels, increasing the value of the product compared to before. Minh Quan honey's main products are longan flower honey and wild flower honey; delicious flavor, golden yellow color and thick consistency. After being dehydrated, pure honey can be preserved for a very long time.

With the recognition of products meeting 3-star OCOP standards, the value of honey products of Minh Quan Beekeeping Cooperative is increasingly higher than before and is currently being sold at a price of 280 - 300 thousand VND/liter, bringing a stable income of 8 - 10 million VND/month for members of the Cooperative. However, the impact of the recent storm No. 3 has caused the Cooperative to suffer heavy losses, but with the spirit and qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers who do not give up in difficulties, Ms. Lan and the members of the Cooperative are making efforts to restore production to maintain and sustain the brand of Minh Quan Honey products.

CCB Vuong Anh Tu - a member of the Honey Beekeeping Cooperative confided: "Storm No. 3 caused our Cooperative to have 6 members with 187/300 bee colonies damaged. The difficulty for us is the source of seeds, and when the seeds run out, some of us feel discouraged. However, with the determination of the soldiers, especially the timely encouragement of Director Hoang Thi Lan, everyone focused on helping each other with seeds and materials to develop the bee colonies together. Recently, each member who suffered losses bought 30 colonies and continued to multiply them. Up to now, the Cooperative has rebuilt all 300 colonies."

The honey beekeeping model of Minh Quan Commune Honey Beekeeping Cooperative has brought about economic efficiency, suitable for the local natural conditions. The farming scale can be easily adjusted flexibly according to the production conditions of each household. To increase the production value of beekeeping, Minh Quan Commune continues to mobilize people and members of the War Veterans Association in the Cooperative to raise bees in an intensive manner, applying scientific and technical advances to production, and at the same time, supporting connection and product consumption.

Not only are they typical examples in economic development, the veterans in the Beekeeping Cooperative are also always at the forefront of movements and activities of the Veterans Association and the locality, and are respected by everyone. For many years, veteran Hoang Thi Lan has also been the Party Cell Secretary and Head of the Front Work Committee of Village 5; and is also a delegate of the People's Council of Minh Quan Commune.

Mr. Tran Manh Hai - Chairman of the Minh Quan Commune Veterans Association shared: "The veterans in the Honey Beekeeping Cooperative are not only exemplary members in the emulation movements of the Association, but also shining examples of will and determination to excel in economic development, highly appreciated by the Veterans Association at all levels. The members of the Cooperative are always ready to share their experiences with many other members who want to raise honey bees, worthy of being typical examples of Uncle Ho's soldiers in peacetime for other members and people to learn and follow."

Vu Dong

Source: https://www.baoyenbai.com.vn/12/344779/Mat-111ng-OCOP-cua-cuu-chien-binh-Minh-Quan.aspx