This specialty plant that "smells good at the slightest touch" is helping people in a commune in Son La increase their income significantly.

Clip: Building OCOP products, a way out of poverty for farmers in the highlands

OCOP products, a breakthrough in agricultural development

After many missed appointments, in the early days of July, when there were heavy rains, signaling a bumper crop season for the people in the highlands, we had the opportunity to return to Phong Lap commune, one of the communes in the region III with many difficulties in Thuan Chau district, Son La province.

Welcoming us, Mr. Quang Van Chinh, Secretary of the Party Committee of Phong Lap Commune, Thuan Chau District, Son La Province, who has just started working in Phong Lap Commune, has many concerns and hopes that people will have less difficulties and a more stable and prosperous life.

The Party Secretary of Phong Lap Commune shared: Phong Lap Commune is 19km from the center of Thuan Chau District, the area is mainly mountainous, the population is scattered, not concentrated, traffic is difficult, especially in the rainy season. Phong Lap Commune has 13 villages with 3 main ethnic groups: Thai, Khang and Kho Mu. The whole commune has more than 1,200 households with over 600 people, of which 423 are poor households, accounting for 34.42%; 195 near-poor households, accounting for 15.87%. People's lives still have many difficulties.

Thứ cây đặc sản — Phong Lap is one of the most disadvantaged communes in Region III of Thuan Chau District, Son La Province. Photo: Van Ngoc

With such difficulties, Phong Lap commune determined that agricultural development based on local strengths is the way to help farmers promote economic development and increase income. Having determined the direction, the problem for Phong Lap now is how to implement those tasks to complete the set goals.

"To achieve clear results in the field of agricultural development, affirming the Party's leadership role is very important in agricultural and rural development. Along with the policies and guidelines of the Party Committee from the Central to local levels, it is necessary to accompany farmers, political organizations, unions, and Party members who are farmers," said the Secretary of the Party Committee of Phong Lap commune.

In 2024, Phong Lap Commune Party Committee chose to build the model of "OCOP standard mac khen fruit", this is one of the breakthroughs in studying and following Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style. The characteristics of the mac khen tree in Phong Lap Commune are that it is very fragrant, suitable for the climate here, the tree grows well, and the fruit is very fruitful. Therefore, Phong Lap Commune has the potential and advantages to build an OCOP product. And in fact, when the harvest season comes, the people consume this mac khen fruit very well. The price is also very stable. Many localities in other districts and communes also come to buy.

Mac Khen is a tree that has existed in Phong Lap commune for a long time. There are ancient mac khen trees that are hundreds of years old. However, because it is a natural tree, does not need to be planted or fertilized, and cannot survive with pesticides and plant protection drugs, so although it has a higher economic value than some other local crops, mac khen has not received much investment and development.

Find ways to build OCOP products

According to the Secretary of the Party Committee of Phong Lap Commune, in recent years, discovering the potential and advantages of this tree, under the leadership and direction of the Thuan Chau District Party Committee, the Party Committee of Phong Lap Commune has actively researched and specifically surveyed the density, quantity and area of the tree. From there, building development models suitable to the local socio-economic situation. In particular, the model of "Mac Khen fruit achieving OCOP" has been implemented, making Mac Khen a local agricultural commodity.

Selecting suitable crops to build a brand, gradually increasing farmers' income. This policy has been deployed to villages and village party cells so that people can access and implement it effectively. And just over 2 months ago, on April 26, Phong Lap Agricultural Cooperative was also established.

Mr. Lo Van Hoan, Director of Phong Lap Agricultural Cooperative, Thuan Chau District, Son La Province said: To bring mac khen fruit products to the market and to have a separate brand, we also include the district's OCOP products. Firstly, to create a product with its own brand, with competitive value in the market. Secondly, to bring benefits to the people. In the coming time, there must be a raw material area. Then, the production process and product packaging will be introduced. The products will be brought to the market to connect with the market, creating a separate brand for Phong Lap's mac khen products.

Determined to create a product with its own brand, competitive value in the market, bringing benefits to the people, the Party Committee of Phong Lap commune assigned specific tasks to each member of the Steering Committee for New Rural Development of the locality. From there, promote propaganda and widely disseminate the program "One Commune One Product" (OCOP). The local authorities coordinated with the district's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to select a consulting unit to develop OCOP products for mac khen fruit. More than 350 party members in 19 branches actively participated in propaganda, guidance, and support for product owners to develop and perfect products, creating conditions to expand production scale and increase product value, increasing income for people. At the same time, helping farmers gradually get acquainted with the commodity economy.

OCOP products help farmers increase income

In Ban Lem village, there are about 10 hectares of naturally grown mac khen trees. The yield reaches over 10 tons of fresh fruit each year, with prices ranging from 35,000 - 60,000 VND/kg. Aiming to develop mac khen fruit into an OCOP product, villagers are regularly guided by professional staff at all levels and Party cell committees to closely follow the actual situation, how to care for and harvest mac khen with the right techniques so that mac khen fruit products are of high quality and safe for consumers' health.

Mr. Lo Van La, Party cell secretary, head of Ban Lem village, Phong Lap commune, Thuan Chau district, Son La province said: From 2015 onwards, households growing coffee and tea trees have just started intercropping with mac khen trees. Mac khen trees help people develop their economy, sell at a good price, and are easy to consume, with traders coming to the village to buy. Mac khen trees bring in 3 times more income than tea and coffee production. In the past time, the Party Committee, government, and People's Committee of the commune have promoted to the people that OCOP products will have higher product prices and higher incomes.

According to the Party cell secretary and head of Ban Lem village, implementing the policy of the Phong Lap commune Party Committee, to enhance the value of mac khen seeds, as well as build the mac khen seed brand into an OCOP product, the village Party cell has mobilized people to focus on caring for, exploiting, and preserving mac khen trees when exploiting them in the wild. In addition, farmers have also promoted the planting of new areas of this crop.

Quang Van Lien's family in Ban Lem village, Phong Lap commune, Thuan Chau district, Son La province used to grow tea and coffee like other households in the area. Since the commune officials and the Party Committee analyzed the economic value of the Mac Khen tree, he and his family have paid more attention to this tree. Since then, his family has had another source of income.

Mr. Lien shared: Currently, my family has about 30 - 35 Mac Khen trees. Compared to other crops, Mac Khen trees do not need care because they are natural. Compared to tea and coffee trees, Mac Khen trees are easier to make a profit and easier to grow. No fertilizer, no spraying, just harvest and sell in season, the value is higher than other trees. Our family hopes that in the future, it will be expanded so that we can have a more stable income and more stable output.

According to Mr. Quang Van Chinh, Secretary of the Party Committee of Phong Lap Commune, Thuan Chau District, Son La Province, in Phong Lap Commune, the total area of Mac Khen trees is currently over 30 hectares, with over 5,000 trees. Many households have gradually changed the crop structure, reducing the area of low-value trees, gradually replacing them with trees of higher economic value, including Mac Khen trees. Some localities have also begun to experiment with growing Mac Khen trees, applying science and technology to the production, preservation, processing and consumption of Mac Khen products.

The Party Committee and the Committee must also organize propaganda and mobilize people to multiply and plant more Mac Khen trees. Research to make Mac Khen trees produce higher and better yields when flowering and fruiting. When becoming OCOP products, it will bring stable income to growers and improve the effectiveness of hunger eradication and poverty reduction, increasing income for people in Phong Lap commune.

Reality at Phong Lap Commune Party Committee shows that selecting and replicating suitable models in studying and following Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style has created consensus and trust among the people. Thanks to that, not only has the quality of life of the people been gradually improved, but it has also contributed to socio-economic development and new rural construction in the locality.

Mac Khen is one of the famous spices of the Northwest mountains and forests. It is considered the "number one spice of the Northwest" - the soul of many delicious dishes of the Northwest region such as Cham Cheo, Buffalo jerky...

Mac Khen has a mild aroma, not as strong as pepper, not as spicy as chili, but creates a tingling taste on the tip of the tongue when tasted. Mac Khen is widely used in the cuisine of the highland people, is an indispensable rich spice in the meals of the people of the Northwest. It is used to marinate grilled dishes such as: grilled fish, grilled chicken, grilled meat... to cover the fishy smell and increase the attractiveness of the dish.

Mac Khen is also used in many other dishes such as frying, stewing; marinating dried meat, smoked meat, and adding to dipping sauces. Mac Khen is also used to dip sticky rice. In particular, this is also an indispensable ingredient in the specialty of the Northwest people - cham cheo.

Source: https://danviet.vn/thu-cay-dac-san-ho-mot-ti-la-thom-nay-dang-giup-dan-mot-xa-o-son-la-tang-thu-nhap-thay-ro-20240708174916029.htm