Developing OCOP products based on advantages.

The "One Commune, One Product" (OCOP) program in 37 communes and wards in the northern part of the province has been positively impacting rural economic development, contributing to the transformation from small-scale agricultural production to production based on value chain linkages, traceability, and market demand.

Members of Tan Thanh Agricultural Cooperative, Bac Kan ward, package turmeric starch products.

Currently, the northern communes of the province have 245 OCOP products, including 4 five-star products, 21 four-star products, and 220 three-star products. Many OCOP products are closely associated with traditional cultural values, handicraft production methods, and skills of ethnic minority communities.

The development of these products not only brings economic benefits but also contributes to preserving and promoting intangible cultural heritage, and showcasing the image and cultural identity of the province.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoan, Director of Tai Hoan Cooperative in Con Minh commune, said: "Previously, we were only known on a small scale, without a clear brand, and our production process and packaging were still manual. Through the OCOP program, the cooperative's cassava vermicelli products have been standardized according to criteria for quality, food safety and hygiene, packaging, and labeling. To date, the cooperative has achieved OCOP 5-star rating for its cassava vermicelli products and is being exported."

The most significant impact of the OCOP Program is its ability to increase the added value of agricultural products and services characteristic of each locality.

Through standardizing production processes, applying advanced quality standards, improving designs and packaging, and building brands, OCOP products have had the opportunity to access a wider market at more competitive and stable prices. This directly improves income for farmers and cooperatives and contributes to sustainable poverty reduction.

The OCOP program encourages the development of products along the value chain from production, processing, and consumption, creating strong links between stakeholders, between farmers and businesses. Developing market-oriented products that meet the increasingly high demands of consumers for quality, safety, and origin has promoted a shift in the agricultural production structure, from primarily relying on output to focusing on quality and value, linking production with the market.

Yen Duong Cooperative in Thuong Minh commune is one of the bright spots in developing OCOP products associated with rural tourism and community tourism, contributing to promoting the local image, attracting tourists to visit and experience, and creating an effective connection channel between producers and consumers.

Ms. Ma Thi Ninh, Director of Yen Duong Cooperative, said: "The cooperative has 3 products that have achieved OCOP 4-star rating and 1 product with 3 stars, including fragrant green squash, cassava vermicelli, and Tai sticky rice... We develop OCOP products in conjunction with traditional craft villages and culture, creating a special attraction for tourists."

Handmade vermicelli noodles from Yen Duong Cooperative.

Each OCOP product in the northern communes carries its own unique story, a crystallization of cultural, historical, and indigenous knowledge values ​​preserved through generations. The OCOP program has helped identify, preserve, and promote these precious values. Handicrafts, traditional dishes, and specialty crops have not only been restored and improved in quality but also widely introduced.

In fact, in communes like Thuong Minh and Ba Be, linking OCOP products with cultural tourism and rural tourism activities has created a new channel for economic development; at the same time, it contributes to preserving traditional craft villages and intangible cultural heritage, enriching the cultural and spiritual life of rural people.

The successful OCOP program in the northern communes has demonstrated the development of collective economic models, creating a cooperative, sharing, and mutually supportive working environment. This has strengthened and improved the quality of rural communities, creating livable, culturally rich, and sustainably developed rural areas.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/kinh-te/202508/phat-trien-san-pham-ocop-tu-loi-the-e4d6576/