Spreading the story of attractive OCOP products, Bac Giang farmers increase the value of agricultural products

With the support of the Farmers' Association at all levels of Bac Giang province, many farmers and cooperatives in Bac Giang province have promoted and spread the unique values ​​of OCOP products to the community and market.

Proud of Huong Son pineapple, promoting local advantages

Huong Son clean pineapple cooperative in Kep 11 village, Huong Son commune, Lang Giang district, Bac Giang province is one of 63 typical cooperatives nationwide in 2024 selected and commended by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union .

Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong - President of Huong Son Commune Farmers' Association said: Huong Son is a mountainous commune located in the north of Lang Giang district, with nearly 60% of the population being ethnic minorities (Tay, Nung...). Due to the climate and soil factors of the hills, Huong Son pineapples are very special, the pride of Huong Son farmers. For many years, Huong Son farmers have been working hard and attached to the pineapple hills.

Off-season pineapple production model of Huong Son clean pineapple cooperative in village 11, Huong Son commune, Lang Giang district, Bac Giang province. In October 2024, Huong Son clean pineapple cooperative was recognized by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union as a typical cooperative nationwide in 2024. Photo: Thanh Nga

To develop pineapple and effectively implement the OCOP product development project, the Huong Son Commune Farmers' Association has supported local people to establish the Huong Son Clean Pineapple Cooperative. With the support of the Farmers' Association at all levels of Bac Giang province, the Board of Directors of the Cooperative and its members have proactively planned and implemented the most scientific and reasonable production and business plans. Mr. Hoang Van Tien - Director of the Huong Son Clean Pineapple Cooperative said: Previously, farmers in the commune grew pineapples in a way that each person did it for themselves, without any close connection with each other. When the Farmers' Association guided us to establish the Cooperative, we have linked up to grow and develop pineapples in accordance with VietGAP standards. In particular, since the fresh pineapple products of the Huong Son Clean Pineapple Cooperative have met OCOP standards, it has not only helped increase income but also spread the values ​​and product stories of pineapple growers to the community and customers. Mr. Tien added: Huong Son Clean Pineapple Cooperative is linking with 3 groups of 50 farming households, including 20 ethnic minority farming households with an area of ​​nearly 50 hectares to support the transfer of science and technology, and link product consumption. In addition to fresh pineapple products, Huong Son Clean Pineapple Cooperative has also boldly invested in and researched to develop more pineapple products such as: Dried pineapple, pineapple tea. In the past 3 years, Huong Son Commune Farmers' Association has supported the subjects to successfully build 3 OCOP products: Huong Son Pineapple product achieved OCOP 2022, colorful sticky rice product achieved OCOP 2023, chicken egg product achieved OCOP 2024. Sharing more about the OCOP product of colorful sticky rice, the leader of Huong Son Commune Farmers' Association said: Colorful sticky rice is an indispensable dish on every traditional New Year holiday of ethnic minorities in Huong Son Commune. The product is of special quality but not many people know about it. To develop products as well as spread cultural values, the Huong Son Commune Farmers' Association has guided people to establish the Huong Ethnic Culinary Cooperative of the Mountain with 36 members representing 11 ethnic minorities of Huong Son Commune to develop the product "Colorful Sticky Rice". After establishing the Huong Ethnic Culinary Cooperative of the Mountain, the Huong Son Commune Farmers' Association also supported, trained, fostered knowledge, consulted on building production and business plans; supported promotional activities, trade promotion, connecting product consumption markets, supported product analysis, packaging and label design; product stories; guided the completion of recognition records... Therefore, after only 1 year of establishment, the Huong Ethnic Culinary Cooperative of the Mountain has confidently brought its products to participate in the OCOP classification assessment and has achieved 3-star OCOP certification. Ms. Hoang Thi Thuong, Head of the Huong Ethnic Cuisine Cooperative of Huong Son Commune, shared: Contributing to spreading the local culinary culture, the Cooperative regularly brings products to display and promote at many events inside and outside the commune. In addition, the Cooperative also coordinates to organize for students at local schools to experience and learn how to make this dish in extracurricular classes, study hours associated with production labor.

Bringing Bac Giang OCOP agricultural products to the market

This year, Hoang Gia Clean Food Cooperative, Ba village (Tan My commune, Bac Giang city) brought Lam tea products to participate in the evaluation and classification of 3-star OCOP. Accompanying the Cooperative, the People's Committee of the commune assigned the officer in charge of the program to directly support the subject to complete the dossier. Mr. Luong Hong Son, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Tan My commune said: "Currently, in the commune, there are many households that have been making and trading Lam tea for many years but have not yet built an OCOP product. To improve the product, the Association coordinates with the City's specialized departments to promote and support the Cooperative to participate in the program. At the same time, organize for Cooperative representatives to participate in training courses, guide the dossier building process; difficulties and problems are promptly resolved."

Many farmers and cooperatives in Bac Giang province have promoted and spread the unique values ​​of OCOP products to the community and market. Cao Lan Smoked Pork has been certified as a 3-star OCOP product. Photo: NVCC

The mountainous countryside of Yen The is also known by many people for its unique agricultural products made by farmers. Cao Lan smoked pork of Cao Lan Agricultural and Service Cooperative (Nghe village, Xuan Luong commune) is one of them. Mr. Hoang Xuan Mau - Director of Cao Lan Agricultural and Service Cooperative said: Cao Lan smoked pork is made according to the secret recipe of the Cao Lan people. Thanks to the support of the Bac Giang Provincial Farmers' Association in consulting, supporting the preparation of documents, packaging, labels, consumption markets, etc. in 2022, he and 8 other members established the Cao Lan Agricultural and Service Cooperative. Along with that, the Cao Lan smoked pork product has been certified as a 3-star OCOP product. In 2023, with the support of the Bac Giang Provincial Farmers' Association, the Cooperative continued to register and build an OCOP product for Cao Lan smoked sausage and in 2024 it will be the Cu Chap Cao Lan salt product. Mr. La Van Doan, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Bac Giang province affirmed: One of the outstanding results of the OCOP Program is to preserve, maintain and spread the cultural values ​​​​characteristic of each locality. Accompanying farmer members, the Farmers' Association of Bac Giang province has advised on the development and implementation of the Project "Farmers' Associations at all levels are the core in organizing agricultural production in the direction of cooperation, linking value chains, building and improving the quality of OCOP products in the period of 2022-2025". Thereby, the Associations at all levels focus on improving designs and packaging, meeting market demand; associated with trade and tourism promotion activities for convenient consumption. At the same time, guide farmers and cooperatives to build unique, meaningful product stories, imbued with local cultural identity to first "sell" the story, then sell the products. "In the coming time, the Farmers' Association will continue to accompany farmers and cooperatives in orienting the development of key products and OCOP products, contributing to creating unique products with local characteristics. So that when mentioning each of those products, consumers will remember that it is a product of Bac Giang farmers" - the Standing Vice Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Bac Giang province affirmed. Source: https://danviet.vn/lan-toa-cau-chuyen-san-pham-ocop-hap-dan-nong-dan-bac-giang-tang-gia-tri-nong-san-20241208105107142.htm