Elevating OCOP products from local strengths

Taking advantage of rich natural resources combined with smart production processes and modern technology, Modica forest bitter melon tea products are gradually gaining a position in the market.

Taking advantage of local strengths, raw materials and human resources, many OCOP entities in the province have gradually improved their competitiveness in the market. From there, many opportunities for linkage in production have been opened up, promoting economic development.

Prioritize the use of local materials

According to the relevant authorities, in the past, the products participating in the OCOP program included local goods and tourism services with cultural values ​​and advantages of the locality. Especially local products, craft village products, tourism services based on strengths and advantages of natural conditions, raw materials, knowledge and indigenous culture.

With the desire to make the most of locally available raw materials, create jobs, and increase income for people, over the past 5 years, Thuan Duyen Food Company Limited (Tan Phu Commune, Tam Binh District) has improved quality and diversified its products. It has launched 15 spice and fermented bean curd products on the market; out of 6 fermented bean curd product lines, 4 products have achieved 4-star OCOP certification and 2 OCOP 3-star products. It is worth mentioning that most of the production materials are purchased from local people under contract, such as: lemongrass, pandan leaves, ginger, galangal, pineapple, kumquat, chili... Every day, the company supplies about 300 boxes of fermented bean curd products and various spices to the market. Since after Tet until now, the company has been producing continuously but still cannot supply enough for the market.

At the same time, not only developing the traditional consumer market in markets and supermarkets, the company also focuses on building brands and promoting marketing strategies, participating in sales on social networking sites, electronic information sites, agricultural product trading floors, etc. to help the products become more known and favored by consumers. In addition to the consumer market from the Southeast provinces to Ca Mau , the company also exports products to Cambodia, the US, Canada, Taiwan, Switzerland, etc.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Truc Linh - Director of the company, said: "Except for soybeans that must be sourced from other places, more than 90% of the remaining raw materials are purchased locally by the company. Because the company's products are mainly produced from familiar herbs that are easy to grow and care for. To increase the source of raw materials for production, in addition to having a self-growing area for raw materials, we have mobilized local farmers to take advantage of the vacant land around their houses to grow many types of raw materials, then the company will come to buy them on the spot, helping people have an additional source of stable income. Currently, the company is creating regular jobs for 75 local workers, contributing to improving the income and life of the people".

Also taking advantage of rich natural resources combined with smart production processes and modern technology, over the years, Modica wild bitter melon tea products have gradually gained a position in the market. Ms. Bui Minh Phuong - Director of Agripure Vietnam Co., Ltd. (Cai Von Ward, Binh Minh Town), shared: “The important factor for our products to gain a foothold in the market is quality. In the past time, the company has focused on ensuring quality from the raw material selection process to processing. By applying high quality standards such as HACCP, committing to farmers on cultivation, harvesting raw materials, and controlling the production process. At the same time, since the two products of Modica wild bitter melon sliced ​​and tea bags achieved 4-star OCOP certification, the products have been enthusiastically received by consumers, appearing in many distribution channels inside and outside the province, from traditional stores and supermarkets to trading floors and social networks”.

OCOP entities proactively link with farmers in consuming agricultural products to increase value and meet market demand.

According to Ms. Phuong, the company's biggest difficulty at present is raw materials. Currently, there are only 2 farming households signing contracts, supplying more than 20kg of raw materials/day, so the company has to limit the number of orders. "To solve the difficulty, the company has taken advantage of the 1.5ha area around the production area to renovate and cultivate the raw material area to ensure sufficient supply for market demand, reducing input cost pressure. At the same time, I will do better in communication and customer care to create attraction for the product" - Ms. Phuong said.

Improve quality, increase competitiveness

Many units participating in the OCOP Program believe that participating in the program is the driving force to change production thinking, promote innovation and creativity in establishments and businesses, contributing to increasing the value of local agricultural products. Accordingly, OCOP subjects have also promoted investment, expanded production scale, applied advanced and modern technology, invested in designs and improved product quality. Up to now, OCOP product production subjects have achieved certain successes.

“Son Thuy Jelly” of Vinh Quang business household (Ward 8, Vinh Long City) is recognized as a 3-star OCOP product, improving product quality is always focused on. According to Ms. Le Thi Bao Trang - representative of Vinh Quang jelly business household, shared: “Since being recognized as OCOP, product consumption has also been much more convenient. This is also a necessary condition to create trust for consumers, gradually expanding the market. At the same time, the facility has expanded its business on local e-commerce platforms; applied QR code scanning to link the facility's website address; promoted business on social networking sites, thanks to which we have expanded the market, saved time exchanging and consulting with customers, and increased business efficiency".

In addition to applying science and technology to production to improve product quality, businesses also focus on improving product designs.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in recent times, OCOP entities have paid attention to applying science and technology to agricultural production and processing, thereby improving product quality and applying information technology in management, promotion, introduction and consumption of products. However, most of the entities participating in the program are small and weak in scale and management, and lack knowledge about market economy and product development according to value chains... Therefore, in the coming time, it is necessary to strengthen propaganda about the significance of the OCOP Program, and there should be practical policies to support OCOP-standard establishments to continue upgrading to create a spillover effect of the program.

To continue promoting the advantages of OCOP products, in the coming time, the subjects hope that the functional sector will continue to promote and support to exploit and upgrade the quality of products to higher levels. At the same time, there will be support plans to expand production, promote brands, and reach further markets.

According to regulations, after 3 years of recognizing OCOP products, the competent authority will re-evaluate the criteria. If the products do not meet the standards, they will be downgraded to a lower star level or have their star certification revoked. It can be seen that although the OCOP Program brings many economic benefits, if the quality is not maintained, the risk of OCOP products having their certification revoked is very high. Therefore, for OCOP products to develop sustainably requires the efforts of the subjects and local authorities. Cooperatives and enterprises need to have solutions and strategies for long-term OCOP product development.

Article and photos: THAO LY - THAO TIEN

Source: https://baovinhlong.vn/kinh-te/202408/nang-tam-san-pham-ocop-tu-the-manh-dia-phuong-3186037/