Efforts to build Phong Nha - Ke Bang honey brand

QTO - Phong Nha Commune has many advantages to develop honey beekeeping. This profession not only contributes to improving the lives of many households but also opens up opportunities for economic development in the locality. Currently, the Honey Beekeeping Cooperative in the Buffer Zone of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is making efforts to build and affirm its brand to bring the typical honey products of this land closer to consumers.

Honey from the heritage land

Located in the buffer zone of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Phong Nha commune has a large forest area with abundant natural pollen sources. This is an ideal condition for developing honey beekeeping. Therefore, in recent years, the honey beekeeping model has been chosen by many people in Phong Nha commune to develop the economy , bringing the main source of income for households.

Mr. Nguyen Tien Dung, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director of the Honey Beekeeping Cooperative in the Buffer Zone of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, said: “To support each other in raising animals and improving product quality, beekeepers in the old Phuc Trach commune (now Phong Nha commune) have joined together to establish the Honey Beekeeping Cooperative in the Buffer Zone of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.

Currently, the cooperative has 15 members with about 400 honey bee colonies. With a farming method close to the natural forest environment, our honey products have a delicious, characteristic flavor, golden color and high nutritional value. Honey is harvested and preserved according to safe production processes, so output and quality are constantly improved. On average, each year, the cooperative harvests about 3,500 liters of honey, earning nearly 1 billion VND.

Phong Nha - Ke Bang honey is introduced at the program "OCOP Rendezvous" - Photo: HN

Step by step brand affirmation

To build the Phong Nha-Ke Bang honey brand, the cooperative focuses on improving product quality. Members raise bees according to technical procedures, arranging beehives near the forest so that bees can collect many types of natural pollen, creating a unique quality for the honey.

“Since joining the cooperative, we have been trained in farming techniques and care processes, so the bee colonies have developed well, producing large honey yields and higher quality. The cooperative members have implemented strict processes, from care, harvesting, bottling to honey preservation, ensuring food hygiene and safety. The labels are designed in a modern and sophisticated way; information about the product, ingredients and health benefits are clearly presented; the system of traceability stamps and barcodes is applied to make the production process transparent, thereby building trust with consumers. The cooperative has also registered quality and food safety indicators for easy control by consumers,” said Mr. Nguyen Van Quy, a member of the cooperative raising bees for honey in the buffer zone of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.

Currently, all honey products produced and circulated on the market by members of the cooperative are branded Phong Nha-Ke Bang honey. The establishment of the cooperative and the organization of production according to the value chain have created favorable conditions for the beekeeping profession in Phong Nha commune to develop, gradually building a stable consumption market. The cooperative has linked up with businesses, stores, supermarkets and commercial centers to promote and introduce products to consumers. Up to now, Phong Nha-Ke Bang honey products have found a fairly solid position in the market and gradually built a brand for consumers. Phong Nha-Ke Bang honey has also been recognized as a 3-star OCOP product.

Challenges and expectations

Despite significant progress, the journey to build the Phong Nha-Ke Bang honey brand still faces many challenges. Competition from honey products from many localities in the province, unstable prices, unstable consumption markets, and maintaining high-quality honey sources in the context of climate change are issues that need to be resolved. With the perseverance and continuous efforts of the Board of Directors and members, the Phong Nha-Ke Bang honey brand is expected to grow stronger and stronger, becoming a typical agricultural product, bringing high economic value and stable income to the people.

“In the coming time, Phong Nha Farmers' Association will focus on supporting the cooperative to develop online sales channels on e-commerce platforms and social networks. The Association will connect the cooperative to participate in agricultural fairs and exhibitions to introduce products to many customers. We are also guiding the cooperative to develop a cooperation plan with tourism businesses, making Phong Nha-Ke Bang honey a specialty product, a meaningful gift for tourists when coming to Quang Tri”. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Long, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the commune, Chairman of Phong Nha Farmers' Association shared.

The successful establishment of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang honey brand will help beekeepers feel secure in expanding production, improving output and quality, thereby increasing product value. When the products are recognized and qualified for consumption in supermarkets, shopping centers and further exported, the beekeeping profession will develop sustainably, bringing stable income to the people of Phong Nha commune.

Le Hoai Nam

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/kinh-te/202509/no-luc-xay-dung-thuong-hieu-mat-ong-phong-nha-ke-bang-fba5888/