Developing OCOP products from advantages

The "One Commune One Product" (OCOP) program in 37 communes and wards in the northern part of the province has been positively impacting rural economic development, contributing to the transformation from small-scale agricultural production to production in the direction of value chain linkage, with traceability, meeting market demand...

Members of Tan Thanh Agricultural Cooperative, Bac Kan ward, packaging turmeric starch products.

Currently, the northern communes of the province have 245 OCOP products, including 4 5-star products, 21 4-star products, and 220 3-star products. Many OCOP products are associated with traditional cultural values, manual production methods, and skills of ethnic minority communities.

The development of these products not only brings economic benefits but also contributes to preserving and promoting intangible cultural heritages, promoting the image and cultural identity of the province.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoan, Director of Tai Hoan Cooperative, Con Minh Commune, said: Previously, we were only known on a small scale, without a clear brand, and the design and production process were still manual. Through the OCOP Program, the Cooperative's vermicelli products have been standardized according to criteria on quality, food hygiene and safety, packaging, and labeling. Up to now, the Cooperative has had vermicelli products that have achieved 5-star OCOP, and are exported.

The most obvious impact of the OCOP Program is the ability to increase added value for agricultural products and services typical of each locality.

Through standardizing production processes, applying advanced quality standards, improving designs, packaging and branding, OCOP products have had the opportunity to access a wider market, with more competitive and stable prices. This directly improves income for farming households and cooperatives and contributes to sustainable poverty reduction.

The OCOP program encourages the development of products along the value chain from production, processing, and consumption, creating close links between entities, between farmers and businesses. The development of market-oriented products, meeting the increasing demands of consumers for quality, safety, and origin, has promoted the shift in the structure of agricultural production, from mainly relying on output to focusing on quality and value, linking production with the market.

Yen Duong Cooperative in Thuong Minh commune is one of the bright spots in developing OCOP products associated with rural tourism and community tourism, contributing to promoting the local image, attracting tourists to visit and experience, creating an effective connection channel between producers and consumers.

Ms. Ma Thi Ninh, Director of Yen Duong Cooperative, said: The Cooperative has 3 products that have achieved 4-star OCOP, 1 product that has 3 stars, about fragrant green squash, dong vermicelli, Tai sticky rice... We develop OCOP products associated with traditional craft villages and culture, creating a special attraction for tourists.

Hand-made vermicelli products of Yen Duong Cooperative.

Each OCOP product in the northern communes carries its own story, the crystallization of cultural, historical and indigenous knowledge values preserved through many generations. The OCOP program has helped identify, preserve and promote these precious values. Handicraft products, traditional dishes and specialty crops have not only been restored and improved in quality but also widely introduced.

In fact, in Thuong Minh and Ba Be communes, linking OCOP products with cultural tourism and rural tourism activities has created a new economic development channel; at the same time, it contributes to preserving traditional craft villages and intangible cultural heritages, enriching the spiritual and cultural life of rural people.

The successful OCOP program in the northern communes has demonstrated the development of collective economic models, creating a working environment of cooperation, sharing and mutual support, thereby strengthening and improving the quality of rural communities here, creating livable countrysides, rich in identity and sustainable economic development.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/kinh-te/202508/phat-trien-san-pham-ocop-tu-loi-the-e4d6576/