"Raising stars" for OCOP products

Developing OCOP products is identified as one of the important tasks of the province, associated with the implementation of the National Target Program on New Rural Development. The star of an OCOP product evaluates the quality, competitiveness and potential of that product.

With the goal of maintaining and gradually improving quality, developing and affirming the brand in the market, the improvement of OCOP products is being paid attention to by sectors and levels in the province with many practical and effective solutions...

The specialty sticky rice of Black Crow of Thang Son commune, Thanh Son district has completed the criteria and registration documents for the province's 3-star OCOP product in 2024.

Raising the level of agricultural products

Located 7km from the center of Yen Lap district, Xuan Thuy is a mountainous commune with more than 90% of Muong and Dao ethnic people living there. Taking advantage of the large land area, mastering the technical process and new production thinking, Xuan Thuy commune has more than 10 hectares of Dien grapefruit grown in an organic direction; annually selling nearly 300,000 fruits to the market in the northern provinces with a selling price of 20,000 VND/fruit.

Mr. Nguyen Van Nen - Director of Xuan Thuy Grapefruit Cooperative said: "The cooperative was established in 2019, with 13 members producing and trading grapefruit. Thanks to the organic farming method, the loose soil has helped Dien grapefruit trees grow greener, healthier, less pests and diseases, improving productivity and product quality, surpassing traditional grapefruit cultivation". In 2021, Xuan Thuy Grapefruit products of the cooperative were recognized as 3-star OCOP products and participated in trade fairs and seminars in many places inside and outside the province, and were highly appreciated by all levels and sectors for their quality.

Yen Lap district currently has 23 products meeting OCOP standards, of which 21 products have 3-star OCOP certification, 2 products have 4-star OCOP certification. In the process of implementing the OCOP Program, Yen Lap district has proactively implemented activities to encourage and facilitate product producers to expand their business, link production and consumption; and strengthen trade promotion and product promotion. The success of Xuan Thuy Grapefruit Cooperative has shown the positive effects of applying high technology in the direction of organic production. This is a model of Yen Lap district that motivates and encourages grapefruit and fruit growers to apply organic production methods, contributing to protecting the environment and consumer health.

To improve product quality and effectively implement the OCOP Program, from now until the end of 2025, the district will continue to classify and evaluate products; promote propaganda to encourage economic organizations and families to register to participate in evaluating and classifying OCOP products. Strengthen trade promotion, pay attention to creating favorable conditions for OCOP entities in the district to display, introduce and promote typical products participating in markets and exhibitions.

This year, Mr. Dinh Van Du's family in Giai Thuong area, Thang Son commune, Thanh Son district harvested nearly 2 tons of Black Crow sticky rice on an area of ​​over 0.5 hectares, with an estimated revenue of nearly 40 million VND. Mr. Du said: "Black Crow sticky rice is only suitable for growing in the summer-autumn crop with a growing period of 143 days. This year, due to many natural disasters, my family did not expand the planting area as much as every year, but the rice plants grew well, almost as tall as a person's head, giving high yields."

According to the Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune, Dinh Cong Trong, in the years 2017-2019, the entire crop area of ​​the commune was abandoned by the people. The leaders were even more concerned when deploying new varieties into production but still suffered losses because the crop often had many pests and diseases and often had erratic rains and storms. In 2020, with the support of the district's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Thang Son commune piloted planting 3 hectares of Black Crow sticky rice, yielding nearly 1.5 quintals/sao with an economic value 2.5-3 times higher than that of ordinary rice. In the second crop, Thang Son commune expanded the area to 3 areas with a total of 20 hectares. 100% of the production was organic, using manure, and not using herbicides. Up to now, the area of ​​Black Crow sticky rice in the commune has increased to 75 hectares, this year's crop yield reached more than 300 tons. The product has been promoted through the e-commerce channel of the Department of Industry and Trade, social networking platforms and participation in trade fairs inside and outside the province.

Comrade Phan Thanh Truong - Deputy Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Thanh Son district said: "The model of growing Black Crow sticky rice of the district not only helps preserve local specialties but also propagates to people in areas adjacent to industrial parks not to skip crops because of the outstanding economic efficiency of this rice variety. In 2025, the district will continue to expand the area of ​​growing Black Crow specialty sticky rice to 100 hectares in the communes of Thang Son, Yen Son, Yen Lang, and Cu Dong. At the same time, the district continues to proactively coordinate with departments, branches, and units to strengthen training for commune-level officials and OCOP product owners; create all conditions to support owners to complete products, evaluation records, and product classification. Strive to have 38 OCOP products with 3 stars or higher by the end of the year. The products are effective, have strong consumption in the market, and become the driving force for economic development in rural areas".

The province's OCOP products participate in exhibitions at trade promotion fairs, connecting supply and demand of OCOP products.

Awaken inner strength, achieve goals

Correctly identifying strengths and characteristics is considered the "foundation" for successfully implementing the OCOP program. The province is focusing on consolidating and perfecting product packaging models, evaluating quality, accompanying product owners, determining market targets to have appropriate production plans, thereby arousing the internal strength and determination of each organization, individual, and enterprise in production and creating product and service value.

From 2021 to now, the whole province has had 220 more products and product groups recognized as meeting OCOP standards. OCOP products meet quality and food safety standards and regulations; have diverse designs and packaging, are environmentally friendly, and meet market requirements.

Product promotion, introduction and consumption are also focused with 15 points of sale and introduction of OCOP products in 10 districts, cities and towns including: Viet Tri city, Cam Khe district, Thanh Ba, Yen Lap, Tan Son, Thanh Thuy, Thanh Son, Tam Nong, Ha Hoa, Doan Hung.

Currently, the whole province has 237 products evaluated and classified as OCOP products, of which 1 product has achieved 5-star rating, 54 products have achieved 4-star rating, 182 products have achieved 3-star rating. Along with the support from local authorities, OCOP subjects have gradually raised awareness and responsibility in efforts to maintain and develop products. In which, quality is an important factor that is put on top.

Along with that, we need to strengthen product promotion and advertising as well as invest in equipment, improve packaging, etc. and to make the product go further in the market, we need to improve the criteria and areas that are still limited, aiming to raise the OCOP star for the product.

Ms. Le Thi Hong Phuong - Director of UT Tea Investment and Development Company Limited, Van Linh Commune, Thanh Ba District said: "With the guidance and support from professional agencies, we have basically completed the conditions to be recognized as a 5-star OCOP product. Upgrading the product will be a favorable condition for our company to expand consumption and develop widely in foreign markets, so we always try to maintain and improve the criteria to increasingly improve the quality of the product."

Continuing to implement the OCOP Program for the 2021-2025 period; the whole province strives to have 368 OCOP products achieving 3 stars or more by the end of 2025 from 303 entities including enterprises, cooperatives, cooperative groups, farms, craft villages, and registered production establishments participating in the program.

To effectively implement the goal, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has directed specialized departments to continue to guide and support entities to complete product development. Conduct a review of raw material zoning, select traditional, typical, and indigenous products... to develop OCOP products.

The Department of Agriculture focuses on coordinating with sectors and localities to promote information dissemination and popularization so that OCOP subjects can better understand the content, purpose, meaning and be responsible for maintaining and developing the product; encourage and support subjects with documents and procedures to participate in evaluating and re-recognizing OCOP products when the deadline comes.

Mr. Tran Tu Anh - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said: "The agricultural sector always accompanies the subjects to develop OCOP certified products; focuses on ensuring the quality of certified products as well as upgrading the star rating for promising products. At the same time, closely coordinates with local authorities and subjects to discuss and build development plans for each product, identify indicators that can still be upgraded, upgraded and implement measures, guide subjects to complete the dossier; promote promotional activities, trade promotion, connecting supply and demand of OCOP products".

Thu Giang

Source: https://baophutho.vn/nang-sao-cho-san-pham-ocop-222233.htm