Connecting goods to tourist destinations - an open direction for agricultural products and OCOP products

Recently, the Department of Industry and Trade of Can Tho City organized a conference to connect agricultural products and OCOP products of Thoi An Hoi Commune (Can Tho City) to Cantho ECO Resort. This event is a testament to the spirit of cooperation and consensus between local authorities, enterprises, cooperatives and farmers. This is also an effort by the authorities to promote trade, expand markets and enhance brand value for agricultural products, especially OCOP products and typical products of Can Tho City in general and Thoi An Hoi Commune in particular.

Customers shop at the OCOP product business area of ​​Cantho ECO Resort.

Thoi An Hoi commune is considered the "green belt" of the city. The commune has an area of ​​about 60km2 ^, possessing great potential for agriculture , especially specialty fruit trees such as pink butter star apple and cat chu mango. The local pink butter star apple product has been exported to the US market. In the domestic market, the price of this type of star apple is always higher than the average price of similar products, creating a stable income for farmers. The commune's cat chu mango ensures quality, meeting 3-star OCOP standards. In addition, the locality also has other fruits such as longan, guava, jackfruit... ready to supply according to market demand. Through the connection program, it is expected that local agricultural products will increasingly expand their consumption markets, helping farmers to increasingly stabilize their lives, contributing to the development of the city's trade and service sector.

Xom Dong 2 Agricultural Cooperative is one of the typical collective economic models of Thoi An Hoi commune. The cooperative specializes in growing pink avocado milk fruit. Thanks to its outstanding quality, the cooperative's products are not only supplied to the domestic market but also exported to demanding markets such as the United States and Australia, bringing high economic efficiency, contributing to affirming the value of agricultural products. Mr. Tran Van Phuong, Director of Xom Dong 2 Agricultural Cooperative, said that the cooperative was established in 2021 with 38 members and nearly 40 hectares of cultivation. The cooperative has been granted 2 growing area codes and connected with businesses to consume pink avocado milk fruit grown according to VietGAP standards, in an organic direction and achieving 4-star OCOP standards by 2022. Each year, the cooperative supplies about 200 tons of milk fruit. If the crop spreading process is applied, the output can reach 400 tons/year. The cooperative has established a quality control department, built a separate processing and packaging warehouse for export goods, and conducted periodic inspections of soil, water, fruits, and pesticides. "In the domestic market, a number of supermarkets and clean agricultural product stores are also looking to cooperate with the cooperative. In particular, participating in business at tourist destinations through the OCOP agricultural product connection conference not only supports cooperatives in expanding their markets, but also helps farmers better understand market demand and produce more and more effectively," said Mr. Tran Van Phuong.

An Thanh Agricultural Cooperative, Thoi An Hoi Commune, specializes in growing Cat Chu mangoes and its products have met the 3-star OCOP standard. The Cooperative has 19 members, an area of ​​about 20 hectares, an annual output of 25 tons/hectare, and an average income of about 250 million VND/hectare. However, Mr. Le Ha Xiem, Director of An Thanh Agricultural Cooperative, said: "Every year, agricultural products often suffer from oversupply and are difficult to sell. Therefore, the Cooperative hopes that the State, competent agencies, and businesses will support product consumption connections so that members can stabilize their income and feel secure in production. The Cooperative ensures the supply of products according to demand in both quality and quantity."

Mr. Banh Phuoc An, Chairman of Thoi An Hoi Commune People's Committee, said that recently, the commune has focused on developing cooperative economic models, urban agricultural production, and high-tech agriculture. Thereby, a number of products of cooperatives and cooperative groups have built brands and trademarks and signed contracts to consume products. Although there is a stable output, with a large growing area and much room for development, connecting to expand product consumption for the locality is very necessary. Connecting agricultural product consumption for cooperatives in the commune to tourist areas is not only connecting product consumption but also supporting farmers to improve product quality, adapt to new types of business (e-commerce), increasingly more suitable to market needs. This is an important step forward, helping to enhance the value and brand of agricultural products, while expanding distribution channels to potential markets, promoting the development of the local cooperative economy. The locality will continue to support people in terms of legal matters, planting area planning, project programs, varieties, technical training, product consumption connections, etc.

Can Tho City currently has 859 OCOP products, of which 3 products have achieved 5 stars, 239 products have achieved 4 stars and 617 products have achieved 3 stars, making it one of the localities with the largest number of OCOP products in the country. The city aims to have 5 more OCOP products by the end of 2025. The One Commune One Product (OCOP) program is becoming a lever to promote the rural economy in Can Tho. Many cooperatives take advantage of this opportunity to improve product quality and expand the market. However, support from local authorities, relevant agencies and businesses is essential. And linkage and connection activities are considered an important bridge to help local agricultural products reach further.

Mr. Ha Vu Son, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Can Tho City, said that along with actively implementing promotional activities, trade promotion, and destination development, the city is interested in integrating OCOP products and local specialty products into business at tourist destinations. The activity of connecting agricultural products and OCOP products of Thoi An Hoi commune to Cantho ECO Resort is a typical example of directly supplying high-quality, safe products with local flavors. This is also a combination of agricultural potential and tourism potential, creating a resonant value, opening a new, modern and effective distribution channel. It is believed that with the diversity of products and services, the operation of OCOP product sales points and local specialty products will reach many customers, increasingly expanding the consumption market not only for OCOP products and local products of Can Tho City but also of the whole Mekong Delta region.

Article and photos: NAM HUONG

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/ket-noi-hang-hoa-vao-cac-diem-du-lich-huong-mo-cho-nong-san-va-san-pham-ocop-a190925.html