Finding ways to enhance the value of OCOP products

With the support of the city's functional sectors, many cooperatives in Can Tho City have proactively produced agricultural products according to VietGAP standards and actively participated in the "One Commune One Product" (OCOP) Program... to improve the quality and value of local agricultural products. Thereby, not only providing high-quality products and goods according to market demand, increasing income for cooperative members, but also contributing to bringing local agricultural products further.

Thoi Hung soursop cooperative displays and introduces soursop wine products at a city conference.

To promote the OCOP Program to develop in accordance with the conditions and advantages of local raw materials and labor, relevant sectors of Can Tho City have implemented many programs to support entities and cooperatives to participate in training programs and build brands for OCOP products. At the same time, participating in conferences and trade promotion fairs for OCOP products... Thereby, not only helping cooperatives grasp market demand, gradually invest in improving the quality of OCOP products, but also linking with partners and businesses to develop production associated with consumption, helping to increase the value of OCOP products and income for members. Currently, Can Tho City has 895 OCOP products of 449 entities, including 4 5-star OCOP products, 242 4-star OCOP products and 649 3-star OCOP products.

Proactively grasping market demand, flexibly organizing members to follow VietGAP and OCOP standards, meeting market requirements is the direction that Thoi Hung Soursop Cooperative, Thoi Hung commune has implemented for many consecutive years and has brought high economic value to farmers. Mr. Thai Ngoc Tai, Deputy Director of Thoi Hung Soursop Cooperative, said: "The Cooperative has 27 members, specializing in growing soursop and durian, with more than 37.5 hectares, of which soursop accounts for over 80% of the total area of ​​the entire Cooperative. To help gardeners in the Cooperative increase their income, local authorities have supported farmers in cultivating soursop according to VietGAP standards, combined with building collective brands, using QR codes to trace the origin of products...".

According to Mr. Tai, thanks to proactively applying good cultivation techniques to make custard apple trees bear fruit all year round and harvesting in a spread-out manner, from the 11th lunar month this year to the end of the 4th lunar month next year; combining the use of organic fertilizers to make custard apples meet quality and safety standards according to market trends, the cooperative's custard apples are purchased by traders and partners wherever they are harvested, creating a stable source of income for gardeners in the cooperative. It is estimated that with an area of ​​1 hectare specializing in growing custard apples, with an average yield of over 10 tons/crop, gardeners will have an income of over 250 million VND/year.

Not stopping at selling fresh fruit, in 2022, Thoi Hung Soursop Cooperative also opened a direction for processing and launching soursop wine products, with a unique, delicious flavor and especially taking advantage of local raw materials, so the product has been recognized as a 4-star OCOP at the city level.

Processing soursop wine not only helps solve the problem of agricultural product output during the main harvest season, but also creates a product with a local brand, helping to increase income for cooperative members. What is more noteworthy is that soursop wine products are honored in the top 100 typical products of the collective economic sector and cooperatives nationwide in 2024. Thereby, it shows that investing in quality from raw materials to processing is not only a stepping stone for cooperatives to affirm product quality in the market, but also the key for cooperatives to create agricultural products with high economic value.

With the support of the city's functional sector, Nhon Nghia Longan Cooperative, Nhon Ai Commune has the opportunity to participate in many training programs and apply modern farming techniques well. Mr. Pham Van Lo, Director of Nhon Nghia Longan Cooperative, said: "The Cooperative currently has 29 members, specializing in growing Ido longan, durian and many other fruit trees, with an area of ​​22.75 hectares. Of which, 20 hectares are planted with Ido longan according to VietGAP standards and have contracts with businesses and purchasing partners. Thanks to following VietGAP standards, registering growing area codes, participating in the traceability management system, and achieving 4-star OCOP product certification, the Cooperative is qualified to cooperate with businesses purchasing exported fruits, helping to increase the value of agricultural products and income of gardeners in the Cooperative."

According to Mr. Lo, during the harvest season, the cooperative's longans are purchased by traders and businesses at the garden at a price higher than the market price, and the economic efficiency is extremely exciting. It is estimated that with 1 hectare of Ido longan, the yield will reach over 20 tons of longans/crop, the selling price is 15,000-20,000 VND/kg, which will bring farmers an income of 300-400 million VND/crop.

After the merger, Can Tho City with its large area and many support policies will help many cooperatives, especially cooperatives with OCOP products, seize opportunities to expand production and business. To support cooperatives with OCOP products to develop effectively and sustainably, the city's functional departments and branches need to strengthen trade promotion activities, expand the market for OCOP products, especially the promotion of OCOP products through conferences, fairs, festivals, and tourist attractions to connect supply and demand for local OCOP products. Mobilize resources to support entities as well as cooperatives to access capital to invest in production infrastructure, machinery, and equipment for processing products, ensuring that they are suitable for the scale and existing production conditions of each model and OCOP product; Support entities with OCOP products to apply digital technology to business activities, promote brands and connect to consumer markets through e-commerce channels... Thereby, helping cooperatives grasp new consumer trends to improve the quality and value of OCOP products on the market.

Article and photos: MY HOA

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/tim-huong-nang-tam-gia-tri-san-pham-ocop-a191933.html