The One Commune One Product (OCOP) program is one of five thematic programs in the implementation of the New Rural Development program. Tien Giang has achieved many outstanding results through all five thematic programs of the New Rural Development program.
MOTIVATION FROM OCOP PRODUCTS
In Tien Giang, many OCOP products are developed from local specialties such as Hoa Loc mangoes, Tan Phuoc pineapples, Cai Lay durians, Go Cong cherry jam, and Cho Gao dragon fruit. OCOP products are also developed from traditional family crafts, such as Ba Hai Diem Fish Sauce Company Limited, which produces five 4-star OCOP products including anchovy fish sauce, shrimp paste, stir-fried shrimp paste with lemongrass and chili, fermented shrimp, and dried shrimp, all of which have been well-received.
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| Preparing cherries for jam making at Binh An Cooperative, Go Cong Dong district. |
Ms. Huynh Thi Diem, Director of Ba Hai Diem Fish Sauce Company Limited, said: “To achieve OCOP 4-star certification, the company has invested heavily in standardized production processes to ensure food safety and hygiene, as well as ISO standards. Thanks to this, the company's products, after being recognized as OCOP 4-star, can easily access distributors and supermarkets inside and outside the province.”
Many OCOP products are also developed from the unique characteristics and advantages of the locality. Some businesses have developed their family-run service industries into OCOP products, such as the story of Thao Nguyen Orchid Garden (Thoi Son commune, My Tho city), which was recognized as a 3-star OCOP product in 2022.
According to Mr. Le Hoang Son, owner of the Thao Nguyen Orchid Garden tourist site, his family previously mainly engaged in tourism based on their own experience. Although the tourist site attracted many visitors, most were regulars, and organizing tours also had some limitations.
Investment in infrastructure development and solutions to improve the rural economy have raised the average per capita income in rural areas: reaching 74.6 million VND in 2024, an increase of nearly 1.3 times compared to 2020. The poverty rate decreased from 1.87% in 2020 to 0.79% in 2024, demonstrating the positive impact of socio-economic development policies. |
“Encouraged by the People's Committee of the commune and the functional agencies of My Tho City, I participated in building a 3-star OCOP product using my own tourism services. After being recognized as an OCOP product, the number and variety of visitors to my tourist destination increased, reaching about 150-200 visitors per day, including domestic and international tourists from countries such as Sweden and Norway…” - Mr. Son shared.
According to statistics from the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the OCOP program has achieved outstanding results. To date, the province has 350 OCOP products, including: 1 product achieving 5 stars, 17 potential 5-star products, 82 products achieving 4 stars, and 250 products achieving 3 stars, with a total of 165 participating entities.
The province's OCOP products have created jobs, increased income, reduced poverty, and improved social welfare in rural areas. These products are traditional, of guaranteed quality, traceable, and accepted by distribution businesses and the market.
The products have appeared on e-commerce websites, the domestic market is starting to show interest, and the number of customers seeking to buy them has increased.
According to Vo Van Lap, Deputy Head of the Department of Quality and Rural Development, the most outstanding result is that we have brought products that were previously confined to rural areas and carried local cultural characteristics to a wider audience, unleashing the economic potential of rural areas.
As a result, farmers are more confident; instead of just selling raw products as before, they will boldly process products to increase their income and create more jobs. OCOP helps farmers transition from farming to agricultural entrepreneurship…
RURAL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
Rural tourism is a relatively new model compared to other rural economic development models. However, in Tien Giang province, many models have been implemented effectively, bringing about positive economic and social effects.
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| Tourists listen to traditional Vietnamese folk music at Thoi Son Tourist Area (My Tho City). |
For localities with strong tourism development potential like Thoi Son commune (My Tho City), through the construction of model new rural areas, the commune's infrastructure has ensured services for tourists visiting. In 2024, the People's Committee of My Tho City developed a plan to preserve and promote the value of Southern Vietnamese folk music to serve tourism development in Thoi Son commune for the period 2024-2025, to implement the model of "Community tourism development in Thoi Son commune, My Tho City, associated with promoting Southern Vietnamese folk music and developing OCOP products".
In addition, Thoi Son commune focuses on supporting local people in providing services to tourists. Accordingly, the commune's People's Committee has provided 294 million VND from poverty reduction funds to purchase 14 rowing boats to support near-poor and poor households in serving tourists. This has enabled local people to earn additional income by participating in rural tourism activities.
Localities lacking scenic advantages have leveraged their agricultural production to develop rural tourism. A prime example is the goat farming model combined with tourism attraction in Tam Hiep commune (Chau Thanh district), implemented by the Dong Nghi Agricultural Service Cooperative. Besides raising goats for milk and producing many OCOP-certified products, the cooperative has also invested in facilities such as swimming pools, goat farming experience areas, and dining areas, attracting many visitors for sightseeing and recreation.
According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Tien Giang province, Tien Giang currently has 19 recognized tourist destinations and 10 recognized businesses; 4 tourist destinations ranked OCOP (One Commune One Product) with 3-4 stars, 3 tourist destinations recognized as typical tourist destinations of the Mekong Delta, and many households engaged in gardening, making sticky rice cakes and coconut candy, beekeeping, handicrafts, and other tourism services.
Activities to introduce and promote Tien Giang's tourism products and image, and to develop new tour packages to attract tourists, have been strengthened and implemented regularly; cooperation and linkages have become increasingly widespread and practical; businesses have proactively connected tours and routes and expanded tourism markets between regions across the country. Localities within the province have also proactively developed and implemented plans to develop rural tourism and community tourism.
CAO THANG - PHUONG MAI
Source: https://baoapbac.vn/kinh-te/202506/nang-chat-kinh-te-nong-thon-1045266/
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