Thai Nguyen develops OCOP products.

With guidance and support from the province, the efforts and determination of local authorities, and the dynamism and creativity of the people, hundreds of OCOP products in Thai Nguyen have been establishing their brands and values. From the midland to the highlands, the development of OCOP products has been creating sustainable livelihoods for the people.

Specialty orange and tangerine growing area, granted geographical indication in Bach Thong commune (Photo by TUNG VAN)

Con Minh is a mountainous commune located more than 110 km from the center of Thai Nguyen province. The land and climate conditions of this area are very suitable for developing endemic crops such as: ginger, seedless persimmon, cinnamon, star anise, and medicinal herbs under the forest canopy. This potential has been "awakened" by the government and people of Con Minh, especially in the cultivation and processing of ginger vermicelli... The ginger vermicelli product of Tai Hoan Cooperative has achieved a 5-star national OCOP certification and is exported to several markets in Europe, affirming the superior quality and brand reputation of ginger vermicelli from this region.

According to Nguyen Ngoc Cuong, Secretary of the Party Committee of Con Minh commune, the commune has identified the development of OCOP products as a strategic solution to leverage advantages and enhance the value of agricultural products. As a result, the locality now has 6 agricultural products that have achieved OCOP standards of 3 stars or higher, such as forest-scented honey, Bay Hoa handmade vermicelli, and Quy Tam cassava vermicelli. The development of OCOP products not only enhances economic value, creates jobs, and increases income for the people, but also contributes to preserving and promoting the traditional values ​​of local craft villages.

Despite the challenges in the mountainous areas of Thai Nguyen, especially in terms of infrastructure for commercial development, the ethnic minority communities here have made many efforts and innovative approaches to develop OCOP products with local flavors, determined to "get rich in their own homeland."

Recognizing the potential of the ancient Shan Tuyet tea trees in her village, Ms. Dang Thi Dat (in Phieng Phung hamlet, Dong Phuc commune) boldly borrowed capital from the bank to invest in opening a processing factory and establishing the Binh An Green Agricultural Cooperative, bringing together many villagers to participate in production and processing. Ms. Dat researched and created a unique tea-making method: stuffing Shan Tuyet tea into fresh bamboo tubes and then hanging them above the kitchen hearth for fermentation, creating the product "Bamboo-fired tea". Thanks to the natural fermentation process, the flavor is richer, with a sweet aftertaste and a delicate aroma. Importantly, the product has a long shelf life and tastes even better the longer it is stored. Each small bamboo tube of tea, containing 250-300 grams of tea, sells for 120,000-150,000 VND.

According to Trieu Quang Hung, Chairman of the People's Committee of Dong Phuc commune, Dong Phuc has hundreds of hectares of Shan Tuyet tea, including more than 700 ancient trees, representing great potential for developing OCOP products. Innovative approaches like those of Ms. Dang Thi Dat reflect the dynamism of the local ethnic people in promoting the value of their agricultural products.

The development of OCOP products in the highlands of Thai Nguyen has been highly effective, largely thanks to the role of cooperatives. According to Ms. Trieu Thi Tam from Phieng Phang village, Thuong Minh commune, in the past, villagers produced glutinous rice spontaneously, resulting in low income. Since linking with Yen Duong Cooperative, farmers have not only received support and guidance on organic farming techniques but also have had their products guaranteed for sale, leading to higher and more stable incomes, and the local glutinous rice variety has gained a well-known brand.

The mountainous commune of Thuong Minh is also a shining example of OCOP product development. To date, the commune has 10 recognized products, including 3 products achieving 4 stars: fragrant pumpkin, Tai sticky rice, and fragrant pumpkin tea; and 7 products achieving 3 stars: Yen Duong vermicelli, Trieu Thi Ta vermicelli, Le Ha tea, Hoang Muoi vermicelli, and black sesame tea bags… These products are not only consumed within the province but have also reached neighboring provinces and are beginning to access the export market.

Thai Nguyen is one of the localities that has implemented the OCOP program systematically, comprehensively, and achieved high results nationwide. The province currently has 598 OCOP products rated 3 stars or higher, including many 4-star products and 10 5-star products at the national level (ranking 3rd nationwide). The province is one of the first two localities in the country to have a 5-star OCOP product in the tourism sector.

The OCOP program has had a positive and far-reaching impact, "unleashing the potential and strengths" of the rural economy. The value of agricultural products has been significantly increased thanks to the standardization of production processes, emphasis on quality, food safety, packaging, labeling, and product storytelling. Many products, after being recognized under the OCOP program, have seen their revenue increase from 1.3 to tens of times compared to before, contributing to raising people's incomes, creating stable jobs locally, especially in rural, mountainous, and ethnic minority areas.

Thanks to the development of OCOP products, highland communes have increased the added value of their distinctive agricultural products and services. 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, directly improving the income of farmers and cooperatives.

To support the expansion of OCOP products, the province has effectively organized trade promotion and product advertising programs. Simultaneously, the locality has built a website to digitize the management, evaluation, ranking, and promotion of provincial OCOP products; provided funding for the construction of websites to promote, introduce, and sell products for businesses; supported signage for over 360 stores at district and commune levels to introduce and sell OCOP products; built virtual reality booths for OCOP products; and organized the Thai Nguyen Provincial OCOP Product Exhibition.

According to a representative from the Thai Nguyen Department of Cooperative Economics and Rural Development, in the coming period, the unit will strengthen support for improving and enhancing product quality, from advising on OCOP criteria and documentation, upgrading star ratings to guiding improvements in packaging, labeling, and technical standards; simultaneously promoting market connections and trade promotion, bringing OCOP products to participate in fairs, exhibitions, and promotional weeks inside and outside the province; connecting with supermarkets, shopping malls, e-commerce platforms, and modern distribution channels; and focusing on training and capacity building for OCOP producers.

Thai Nguyen aims to develop an additional 100 products certified as meeting OCOP standards of 3 stars or higher by 2030, and at least 5 more products certified as 5-star national OCOP products. A key focus is to have 250 tea products certified as meeting OCOP standards of 3-5 stars, and at least 6 tea products achieving 5-star OCOP certification.

THE BINH

Source: https://nhandan.vn/thai-nguyen-phat-develop-ocop-products-post956517.html