Developing OCOP: Improving product quality, expanding markets.

The "One Commune, One Product" (OCOP) program in Binh Thuan is increasingly asserting its role as a lever for promoting sustainable rural economic development. From an initial movement with a more grassroots focus, OCOP is transforming into a large-scale, systematic economic program, contributing to enhancing the value of local products, improving people's incomes, and building new rural areas in a more profound way.

Báo Bình Thuận•29/06/2025

Progress in quantity, transformation in quality.

2025 marks a significant development for the OCOP program in Binh Thuan, with 21 products recognized as achieving 4-star OCOP standards – the highest number ever. Of these, 11 products were newly recognized and 10 were re-evaluated. Notably, the majority are local specialties such as fish sauce (14 products), dried squid (2 products), fresh dragon fruit, sea grapes, and chicken eggs. This result not only reflects the professionalism of the evaluation agencies but also demonstrates the continuous efforts of OCOP participants in the province. This is not only a quantitative step forward but also shows a clear professionalization in production, processing, branding, and market access for OCOP participants. A noteworthy new feature in this round is the transparent and open scoring process through electronic evaluation software. The application of technology not only helps to standardize and ensure objectivity in the scoring process but also supports the transparent storage and retrieval of product information.

Awarding OCOP 4-star certification to the products.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Phuoc – Deputy Director of the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, and Vice Chairman of the Provincial OCOP Product Evaluation and Ranking Council, stated: “All products participating in this evaluation round achieved 4-star OCOP standards, demonstrating serious and systematic investment from the producers. The products met the requirements for quality, food safety, raw material origin, packaging design, trade promotion activities, and environmental protection commitments.” In particular, two products, sea grapes from Hai Nam Okinawa Co., Ltd. (Phan Thiet City) and TAFA fresh chicken eggs from TAFA Vietnam Livestock Co., Ltd. (Tra Tan commune, Duc Linh district), were assessed as having the potential to achieve 5-star OCOP. After being recognized as 4-star, the dossiers and product samples of these two potential products will be submitted by the Department of Agriculture and Environment to the Provincial People's Committee for consideration, evaluation, and national OCOP recognition at the central level.”

A notable highlight is that many establishments have proactively improved packaging, registered intellectual property and geographical indications, and applied digital technology to production processes and traceability. The use of QR codes to record detailed information about batches and production dates and times has helped enhance transparency, control quality, build consumer trust, and open up opportunities for distribution systems.

Binh Thuan's signature OCOP products

Spreading the power of OCOP

To date, the province has a total of 210 valid OCOP products, including 28 4-star products and 182 3-star products. The OCOP program in Binh Thuan has achieved many important results in promoting rural economic development and improving people's lives.

Boosting product sales promotion

According to the assessment of the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, the OCOP program is increasingly affirming its role as an important driving force promoting rural economic development towards self-reliance and sustainability. It is also an effective solution contributing to the implementation of the National Target Program for New Rural Development in the 2021-2025 period. In Binh Thuan, OCOP has contributed to elevating many local specialties with strong potential such as dragon fruit, fish sauce, dried squid, sea grapes, chicken eggs, etc. These products have not only improved in design and quality but have also built brands, gradually expanding their distribution markets within and outside the province. Many products have approached export standards, opening up new avenues for rural goods. The program also helps to reorient production along the value chain, forming new-style cooperatives, connecting farmers with businesses and consumer markets. At the same time, producers are increasingly focusing on environmental factors such as reducing emissions, reusing agricultural by-products, and protecting the rural landscape. Beyond simply creating products, OCOP is contributing to the formation of a rural economic ecosystem based on the principles of circular economy, sustainable development, and preservation of local cultural identity, with distinctive products playing a leading role.

According to the provincial agricultural sector's orientation, in the coming time, the province will continue to support OCOP (One Commune One Product) businesses through training, trade promotion, brand building, and participation in trade fairs and supply-demand connection events both domestically and internationally. The agricultural sector encourages businesses to continuously improve product designs and quality, while expanding markets and aiming for a 5-star national OCOP rating. This is a practical goal to bring Binh Thuan's distinctive products to a larger market. The OCOP program will continue to be closely integrated with the process of building new rural areas, developing agricultural tourism, and exploiting traditional cultural values associated with local products. Through this, a green, modern, and sustainable rural economic ecosystem will be gradually formed.

Source: https://baobinhthuan.com.vn/phat-trien-ocop-nang-chat-san-pham-mo-rong-thi-truong-131432.html