Developing OCOP products derived from lotus

The combination of tradition and innovation is being realized by many production facilities in the province by building a linkage area, developing lotus processed products into One Commune One Product (OCOP) products, bringing high added value, raising the position of the province's agricultural products in the market. Through this, the beautiful image of local agricultural production is spread to the whole country and international friends.

Product "Bach Diep Lotus Tea" of Thien Truong Phat Investment and Development Joint Stock Company, Vi Xuyen ward ( Nam Dinh city).

The lotus is not only a symbolic image of spiritual culture but also a livelihood crop associated with land and crops. Implementing the transformation of crop and livestock structure according to the orientation of the agricultural sector, many households have boldly planted lotus on ineffective rice fields that cannot be cultivated. In particular, in Truc Ninh, Giao Thuy, Nghia Hung, Xuan Truong districts with large, low-lying rice fields, favorable irrigation conditions, and suitable soil, lotus is becoming a key crop. Not only does it bring superior economic efficiency compared to traditional rice cultivation, lotus also has the ability to clean water sources, improve soil and create ecological landscapes. The special thing about lotus is its comprehensiveness and diversity in the value of exploiting most parts from seeds, shoots, tubers, flowers, leaves... with the support of modern processing technology. Therefore, when the OCOP program was implemented, lotus was chosen by many localities to develop into a typical local OCOP product.

In the journey to improve local agricultural products, the OCOP Program has become a launching pad for many lotus-processed products in Nam Dinh to become prestigious brands. The pioneer in processing lotus products is Viagri Company Limited, Truc Chinh Commune (Truc Ninh). The company has invested in modern equipment such as Korean technology greenhouses for drying raw materials, automatic slicing machines, and automatic roasting machines... and implemented a processing process that meets HACCP standards (a food safety management system based on identifying, evaluating, and controlling potential hazards in the production and processing of food) along with the application of freeze-drying technology to create 3-star OCOP-rated products "Viagri Lotus Root Starch" and "Viagri Lotus Root Tea". These are products processed from fresh lotus roots selected from safe growing areas with modern processes. The product ensures food hygiene and safety, in line with the current market demand for healthy food. In the same locality, Vu Van Anh business household has also successfully developed the product "Premium lotus root starch", a typical OCOP product made from lotus roots grown in Truc Chinh commune with a production and processing process that meets ISO 22000 standards on food safety. In addition to traditional sales channels, the product is also promoted and consumed on e-commerce channels, helping the product become more widely known. On average, each year Vu Van Anh business household sells 500kg of starch, 300kg of lotus root tea, with revenue of about 400 million VND, and interest rates of about 50%.

In Giao Thuy land, Sen Hong 18 Agricultural Production and Service Cooperative, Giao Ha commune is continuing to preserve and develop the traditional lotus growing profession. To standardize the quality of lotus products, the Cooperative has meticulously developed the process of selecting seeds, caring for and harvesting lotus seeds. At the same time, it has successfully built 2 OCOP products "Sen Hong Fresh Lotus Seeds" and "Sen Hong Dried Lotus Seeds". Nutritious lotus seeds are carefully selected and naturally dried to retain all nutrients and flavor, have the effect of supporting health, improving resistance, and nourishing human health. With the message "From Giao Ha lotus village, to every Vietnamese home", currently Sen Hong 18 Cooperative is constantly expanding production linkages in raw material areas, improving product quality and promoting the Nam Dinh lotus brand. In particular, when talking about lotus products, we cannot fail to mention the OCOP product "Bach Diep Lotus Tea - Tinh Tam Tra" of Thien Truong Phat Investment and Development Joint Stock Company, Vi Xuyen Ward (Nam Dinh City). The product is applied with modern tea-scenting technology, ISO certified for food safety with outstanding quality. Each tea bud, each lotus petal is carefully selected, showing respect for nature and culinary culture. Not only a commodity product, an elegant drink, Tinh Tam Tra also carries within it the story of culture, nature and the creative spirit of local people, bringing the flavor of Nam Dinh lotus tea far and wide.

Developing OCOP products from lotus is not simply a matter of economic development, but also a journey to preserve and enhance the cultural, environmental and human values ​​of Nam Dinh. However, for lotus to truly become a key crop and spread sustainable values, it requires a systematic and long-term strategy. First of all, building a stable, sustainable and concentrated lotus material area needs to be a top priority. Through the cooperative model, the link between farmers and businesses will help ensure consistent quality and sustainable supply for production. On the other hand, applying advanced farming techniques and investing in deep processing will help diversify lotus products, focusing on value-added products such as high-quality lotus starch, functional foods and natural cosmetics. In addition, it is necessary to promote trade promotion activities and promote product brands based on digital platforms such as e-commerce platforms, social networks and OCOP fairs to bring Nam Dinh lotus products to a variety of consumers.

It is not too much to say that lotus is gradually becoming a "green ambassador" for the transformation of Nam Dinh's agricultural sector. From low-lying areas that were previously abandoned or used for ineffective rice cultivation, lotus has positioned itself and brought significant economic values, not wasting land resources. The rapid development of OCOP products from lotus is a clear demonstration of the results of innovative thinking in agricultural development associated with innovation, based on indigenous cultural foundations. That is the way for Nam Dinh - a traditional agricultural province, not only to preserve its identity but also to pave the way for the rural economy to go into depth, with multi-layered values ​​in the new era.

Article and photos: Ngoc Anh

Source: https://baonamdinh.vn/kinh-te/202506/phat-trien-cac-san-pham-ocopco-nguon-goc-tu-cay-sen-6ce1274/