Bau duck - A typical OCOP product in the mountainous region of Thanh Hoa

The family of Mr. Ha Van Sinh, Co Lung commune is a famous Co Lung duck farming household in Ba Thuoc district. Photo: Hoang Dong

From native livestock

Having the opportunity to visit Ba Thuoc, Quan Son, Quan Hoa districts ( Thanh Hoa ), the specialty that local officials often proudly introduce to visitors is the green-necked duck.

Green-necked ducks are raised naturally on streams, using natural foods (snails, shrimp, prawns, mixed vegetables), thus creating firmness and sweet aroma of duck meat.

However, the most famous of the duck breeds in Thanh Hoa is the Co Lung duck (also known as Quoc Thanh duck, Muong Khoong duck). This is a long-standing native duck breed, mainly raised in Co Lung commune and some neighboring communes of Ba Thuoc district.

Ba Thuoc has the advantage of cool, clear streams with water flowing all year round, with lots of snails, small fish as well as microorganisms. This is a very good source of food, creating favorable conditions for people to raise ducks and creating the Co Lung duck brand.

The family of Mr. Ha Van Sinh (in La Ca village, Co Lung commune) has been raising and preserving a precious breed of duck for many years. Mr. Sinh said that when he first started raising ducks, he encountered many difficulties because the ducks were crossbred from many other duck breeds, so the price was not good. Therefore, he went to families in the village to find the right breed of native Co Lung ducks to raise and multiply, supplying the market.

Currently, Mr. Sinh's family maintains a flock of 250 ducks, with the price of duck meat sold on the market being relatively stable at 100,000 - 120,000 VND/kg. In addition to raising ducks naturally on Nua stream in the village, Mr. Sinh also dug ponds and built water wheels to bring stream water to the ponds, ensuring a clean water source for raising ducks. At the same time, he also invested in building solid barns to classify commercial ducks, laying ducks, and breeding ducks.

Notably, Co Lung ducks were initially raised only by households, but now there have been links to develop into cooperative enterprises to consume products for people in the region and move towards building OCOP products.

Typically, Co Lung Duck Breeding Company Limited located in Long village, Lung Cao commune has been developing this specialty duck breed and building it into an OCOP product. Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Tuan, representative of the Company, said: Currently, the Company has been cooperating with 40 households in the area to provide breeds, consume products, and create stable output for people. Each year, the Company supplies the market with about 12,000 commercial ducks. In addition, the Company also invests in 3 incubators and maintains a flock of commercial ducks, supplying the market.

Since 2023, Ba Thuoc district has implemented commercial Co Lung duck breeding projects in the communes of Ban Cong, Ky Tan, Dien Ha, Thanh Lam, Co Lung, Lung Niem. The total number of supported duck breeds is over 26,000. The district also focuses on developing advantageous products of the district, including Co Lung duck.

By the end of 2023, the total poultry herd in the district will be more than 470,000 (of which Co Lung ducks will be more than 50,000). In 2023, Tuan Anh Co Lung ducks (Co Lung Duck Breeding Company Limited) were recognized as a 3-star OCOP product at the provincial level. Currently, Co Lung ducks have been protected by geographical indication.

This duck breed is often raised naturally, suitable for the climate of mountainous districts. Therefore, not only in Ba Thuoc, but also in other districts such as Quan Son, Muong Lat, Quan Hoa, Thach Thanh, Thuong Xuan... have been breeding, developing this duck breed and building it into an OCOP product.

Co Lung Tuan Anh duck products (Ba Thuoc) and Suoi Tinh duck products (Quan Son) have been recognized as OCOP products.

...to OCOP products

Mr. Nguyen Van Sinh, Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Quan Son district, said: Currently, Quan Son district has 9 OCOP products, including 2 OCOP products: Suoi Tinh duck (Tam Lu commune), Suoi Chang Muong Ha duck (Son Ha commune).

The model of raising ducks in the direction of goods is a new direction in economic development, helping to solve employment and increase income for people, gradually helping households raising livestock in the mountainous district of Quan Son reduce poverty.

Typically, in Hat village, Tam Lu commune, the Suoi Tinh duck breeding cooperative is led by Ms. Vi Thi Thuyen, Head of the Hat village Women's Association. The association has 110 members, of which 35 members participate in the duck breeding cooperative. Initially, the cooperative only had 20 members, but now it has increased to 35 members. Realizing the potential and effectiveness in economic development, stable product output, and high appreciation from many consumers, is the motivation for the Hat village women's association members to continue to maintain and develop the cooperative effectively.

Ms. Vi Thi Thuyen said: Suoi Tinh ducks are raised in alternating seasons, ensuring there are always commercial ducks to supply the market. This breed of duck prefers a clean environment, often swims to find miscellaneous food, has good disease resistance, is rarely affected by epidemics, and is very adaptable to local natural conditions.

Currently, the Cooperative has a total flock of about 500 ducks. Each year, the Cooperative raises about 3-4 batches of ducks. Ducks are raised mostly in the wild, so the meat is fragrant, sweet, and low in fat. People choose it as a delicacy to entertain and give as gifts to distinguished guests and to supply to the market.

Currently, the Cooperative is making efforts to find markets, develop duck flocks, create more jobs for women in Hat village in particular, and gradually build a reliable address for members to share, learn experiences, and replicate the model in the district.

The development and expansion of the duck breed in mountainous districts of Thanh Hoa has brought many economic benefits, helping people reduce poverty and increase income.

In the mountainous district of Muong Lat, Sim villagers in Quang Chieu commune are also focusing on raising Sim stream ducks. In addition, in Thuong Xuan district, Luan Khe, Yen Nhan, and Xuan Thang communes are developing the green-necked duck breed; in Thach Thanh district, the rare Trac Nhat duck breed is also being preserved by Thanh Tho commune residents.

The model of raising ducks in mountainous districts of Thanh Hoa has been bringing practical results, becoming a sustainable livelihood model for local people. Currently, in many communes in mountainous districts, the duck raising model is being expanded and developed into an OCOP product, helping people increase their income; at the same time, introducing typical local cuisine, contributing to tourism development.

Implementing the Project "Developing models of crops, livestock, medicinal herbs, and advantageous products in the mountainous areas of Thanh Hoa province, period 2022-2025" according to Decision 4079/QD-UBND dated November 24, 2022 of the People's Committee of Thanh Hoa province, currently, mountainous areas have identified native ducks (mandarin ducks) as one of the advantageous livestock. In the period 2022-2025, it is expected that about 91,000 native ducks will be raised in 11 mountainous districts, concentrated in Muong Lat, Quan Son, Ba Thuoc, Lang Chanh, Thuong Xuan districts...

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Source: https://baodantoc.vn/vit-bau-san-pham-ocop-dac-trung-o-mien-nui-xu-thanh-1718103386417.htm