Building a chain linking production and consumption of OCOP products

In promoting the development of modern and sustainable agriculture, Nam Dinh is affirming its position as a “bright spot” in the Red River Delta region with a strategy of building a linkage chain associated with the development of OCOP products (One Commune One Product Program). Not only stopping at promoting the advantages of local specialties, Nam Dinh has turned the OCOP program into an important “lever” to create a modern production model, control the quality of inputs and outputs, enhance the value of agricultural products and increase the competitiveness of the rural economy.

Production of OCOP product "Sunny Sausage" at Quy Thinh Company Limited (Hai Hau).

With the viewpoint of "cooperation is the foundation, technology is the driving force, market is the goal", up to now, the province has formed 42 chains linking production and consumption of agricultural products. Of which, there are 14 cultivation chains with 5 chains producing high-quality rice, 1 chain producing and processing mushrooms, 7 chains producing vegetables, tubers and fruits; 15 aquaculture chains including 8 chains exploiting and processing seafood and 7 chains raising and consuming brackish water seafood; 10 livestock chains, focusing on processing pork and preserving and consuming poultry eggs; 3 chains in the salt industry. These chains are operating in a synchronous, transparent manner and with binding interests between participating entities; Most of these chains are associated with OCOP products - from production to processing, packaging, and distribution, not only helping to control quality but also reducing intermediate costs, increasing product value, dominating the domestic market and initially orienting for export to international markets.

Toan Xuan Company Limited (Y Yen) owns a large-scale high-quality rice processing production chain (over 1,000 hectares) with 10 cooperatives and 11 farming households in Hai Hau, Nam Truc and Y Yen districts. Implementing a strict closed production process from harvesting to processing, the chain has created the Toan Xuan clean rice brand with 1 3-star OCOP product and 2 products "Toan Xuan 999 high-quality clean rice", "Rươi field ecological rice" are being submitted to the Central Government for evaluation and classification of 5-star OCOP products. The products in the chain are currently distributed in 34 provinces and cities with an output of 6,000 tons/year. Lenger Vietnam Seafood Company Limited (Nam Dinh city) has successfully built a chain of farming, processing and consuming Lenger clean clams with an ASC/CoC certified clam farming area of ​​500 hectares and modern processing technology. Currently, the Company has 3 products certified with 4-star OCOP and 1 product "Lenger canned clam meat" is being submitted to the Central Government for evaluation and classification of 5-star OCOP products. Lenger clean clam products have been widely sold in supermarkets and large restaurants in many localities across the country, especially supermarkets in Hanoi city and exported to international markets such as the EU, US, Japan. Not only creating high economic value, the linked chains also create sustainable livelihoods for many coastal households... Nam Dinh agricultural products are no longer single agricultural products, lacking positioning, but are products closely linked in production according to the value chain, ready to enter the "big game" with standardization of quality, brand and operating model.

To promote the development of OCOP products from the production chain, the province has implemented a series of synchronous, practical policies, providing comprehensive support, from production organization, technology application to consumption and brand building. In particular, it has focused on supporting cooperatives and enterprises to build linkage contracts, production and business plans and OCOP product development orientations, helping entities have a long-term vision, avoiding the situation of following trends or being passive in the face of market fluctuations. Focusing on technology transfer, applying advanced production standards such as VietGAP, GlobalGAP, HACCP, ISO to improve product quality, meeting the strict requirements of domestic and foreign markets. Trade promotion and brand building have also been promoted through fairs, exhibitions, supply-demand connection programs and e-commerce platforms. In addition, the province directed departments and branches to organize training courses on management and business skills for cooperative and enterprise staff, and at the same time build a network of experts to support organizations participating in OCOP. Investing in the "operational force" will be a necessary condition for the sustainable development of linkage chains. The success of linkage chains is an important premise for the province to continue to improve the "quality" and "quantity" of OCOP products. To date, the province has a total of 534 OCOP products with 3 stars or more, including 1 product with 5-star OCOP, 3 products are completing dossiers to request the Central Government to recognize 5-star OCOP, 65 OCOP products with 4 stars and 465 OCOP products with 3 stars.

In the coming time, the province will continue to encourage businesses, cooperatives, and farmers to produce green, circular, and environmentally friendly products, linking in chains towards sustainable development and climate change adaptation. Promote digital transformation throughout the entire process from production, traceability, quality management to introduction and sales on digital platforms. Continue to promote communication; promote trade promotion; support e-commerce promotion. Provide comprehensive advice and support for OCOP subjects, especially support for redesigning packaging, improving labels, helping products have a professional appearance, easy to identify and suitable for modern consumer tastes...

It can be said that the successful construction of linkage chains associated with the development of OCOP products is not only a technical-economic solution but also a strategy for modern, effective and sustainable agricultural development. From village products, Nam Dinh has created an agricultural brand with its own identity and a national vision, ready to enter the integration era with its own internal strength.