OCOP products are changing the face of rural areas.

Hau Giang province is promoting the application of science and technology; innovating and improving processing technologies for OCOP products that have been recognized.

On February 19, 2024, Mr. Truong Canh Tuyen – Standing Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hau Giang province, and Deputy Head of the Steering Committee for National Target Programs giai đoạn 2021-2025 of the province – signed the Plan for implementing the National Target Program on New Rural Development and the "One Commune One Product" (OCOP) Program in Hau Giang province in 2024.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, during a working visit to Hau Giang province, visited a booth displaying OCOP (One Commune One Product) products of the province. (Photo: Tan Phong)

Many development solutions

The purpose of this plan is to ensure the implementation of the National Target Program on New Rural Development for the period 2021-2025 in the province. It aims to continue the comprehensive implementation of new rural development initiatives in all communes in the province, focusing on completing the 19 criteria for communes that have not yet met the new rural development standards; while maintaining and improving the quality of criteria for communes that have already met the standards, and gradually building advanced and model new rural communes.

The plan requires departments, agencies, organizations, and the People's Committees of districts, towns, and cities to develop specific plans for implementing the National Target Program on New Rural Development and the One Commune One Product Program in 2024 within their respective scopes, fields, and areas of management; and to incorporate targets for new rural development, advanced new rural development, and OCOP product recognition into the work programs and socio-economic development plans for 2024 of their respective units and localities.

For the OCOP Program, the goal is for each district-level unit to evaluate and classify at least 5 products to achieve 3-4 stars at the district level; including at least 1 product achieving 4 stars at the provincial level. For provincial-level products, the goal is to recognize at least 8 products as 4-star OCOP products.

In addition, the plan includes upgrading at least 25% of OCOP products from 3-star to 4-star at the provincial level; re-certifying OCOP products whose certification period (36 months) has expired in the province; and completing the dossiers for 3 OCOP products to register for national-level product evaluation and classification.

To effectively implement the above plan, the Steering Committee for National Target Programs giai đoạn 2021-2025 of Hau Giang province has put forward many specific tasks and solutions.

Accordingly, the focus should be on promoting the application of science and technology, innovating and improving processing technologies for small and medium-sized enterprises, especially for OCOP products that have already received star ratings.

Review and develop standards and regulations for OCOP products to meet the requirements of both domestic and export markets; develop a set of technical standards to support the production and monitoring and evaluation of OCOP products; promote the application of solutions for protecting and effectively exploiting the value of intellectual property assets (geographical indications, collective trademarks, certification marks) for OCOP products, especially national-level OCOP products.

OCOP products from Ky Nhu Palm Leaf Cooperative in Phung Hiep district are being prepared for the Tet market.

For the Provincial Office for Coordinating National Target Programs, the Steering Committee requests that it inspect and guide districts, towns, and cities in developing products, organize the evaluation and classification of OCOP products at the district level, and complete the registration dossiers for the evaluation and classification of OCOP products at the provincial level.

Simultaneously, the Provincial OCOP Product Evaluation and Ranking Council will review OCOP product dossiers at the district level and organize the evaluation and ranking of OCOP products at the provincial level. The Provincial People's Committee will also be advised to announce products that achieve 3-4 stars in the provincial OCOP product ranking.

A bright spot in Phung Hiep district.

Implementing the above plan, by the end of 2024, Hau Giang province had recognized 348 OCOP products achieving 3 stars or higher (including 113 4-star products, accounting for 32.5%; and 235 3-star products, accounting for 67.5%), with 159 entities (including 24 companies, accounting for 15.1%; 45 cooperatives, accounting for 28.3%; and 90 establishments and business households, accounting for 56.6%). There were 11 applications submitted for evaluation and ranking of 5-star OCOP products by the Central Government.

One of the localities that has actively responded to the above plan is Phung Hiep district. With its advantageous soil conditions and diverse agricultural products, along with support from various programs and projects, Phung Hiep district now has nearly 50 products that meet OCOP standards, accounting for 15% of the total OCOP products of Hau Giang province. After receiving OCOP certification, these products are promoted commercially, resulting in a 50%–60% increase in sales compared to before certification.

Recently, when participating in the Mekong Connect 2024 event held in An Giang province, Ms. Vo Thi Phuong Trang – owner of Ut Tay traditional wine production facility (Phung Hiep district) – said that she displayed 7 product lines, of which 5 product lines were selected as 4-star OCOP products of the province (including 4 product lines that achieved typical OCOP status of the Mekong Delta region).

"Ut Tay's goal in attending this event is to participate in important workshops to learn from experience and find the best direction for herself in developing a circular agricultural economy, a green economy, and moving towards sustainable development," Ms. Trang said.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/san-pham-ocop-thay-doi-dien-mao-nong-thon-19625011310061396.htm