Chuong My solves the problem of raw materials for OCOP products

Chuong My is a locality with many traditional craft villages. This is a great potential for the district to exploit the advantages of developing OCOP products (One Commune One Product Program). However, the issue of raw materials for production of some industries such as rattan and bamboo is still facing difficulties. Therefore, proactively sourcing raw materials for product development is one of the key solutions that the district has been implementing vigorously.

Many rattan, bamboo and woven products of Chuong My district have been evaluated and classified as OCOP.

Promoting local advantages Having participated in evaluating and classifying OCOP products, Meritorious Artisan Hoang Van Hanh, Director of May Viet Trading Company Limited (Phu Vinh village, Phu Nghia commune, Chuong My district) said that in previous years, the company had 10 products recognized as 4-star OCOP. OCOP-certified rattan and bamboo products are of good quality, diverse designs, and rich varieties, helping businesses have more opportunities to promote widely in domestic and foreign markets, thereby enhancing the product brand. Currently, the company's products have been exported to many countries around the world, and are favored by international tourists (Japan, Korea, China, etc.). At the end of 2023, the company continued to participate in evaluating 2 products: rattan tea tables and rattan trays, which have been recognized as OCOP. According to Meritorious Artisan Nguyen Van Trung, Chairman of Phu Vinh Bamboo and Rattan Association - Phu Nghia Commune, in Phu Vinh village there are hundreds of households engaged in bamboo and rattan weaving in the form of groups, production facilities, limited liability companies... To meet the market demand, artisans and skilled workers of the craft village have constantly created new product designs with high usage value and aesthetics, which are exported to many countries around the world. Many of these products have been evaluated and classified in the OCOP Program and have achieved 3-4 star OCOP products. Head of the Economic Department of Chuong My District Tong Van Thai informed that in the district, there are currently 35 villages recognized by the City People's Committee as craft villages and traditional craft villages; of which there are 27 export rattan and bamboo weaving villages. In addition, the district has 4 craft villages producing wooden handicrafts, 1 craft village producing conical hats, 1 stone carving village, 1 agricultural and food processing village and 1 embroidery village. This is a great advantage for localities to develop OCOP products. Currently, there are 183 certified OCOP products in the district, concentrated in 21/32 communes and towns. Among the recognized products, 80 products belong to the handicraft group. At the end of September, Chuong My district continued to evaluate and classify OCOP products for the first time in 2024 and had 23 more products that met the criteria, waiting to be recognized. Building sustainable raw material sources Among the recognized craft villages of Chuong My district, Phu Nghia commune has 7 rattan and bamboo weaving villages; Dong Phuong Yen commune has 6 rattan and bamboo weaving villages; Truong Yen commune has 2 fine art carpentry and rattan and bamboo weaving villages; Lam Dien commune has a rattan and bamboo weaving village... The participation of production households in the OCOP Program not only contributes to maintaining, preserving and developing the craft village, but also promotes brand building, expands the consumption market; at the same time, creates jobs and increases income for people in the region. The rattan and bamboo weaving villages have many advantages for development, but this production industry in Chuong My district is currently facing many difficulties, especially in terms of raw materials. Meritorious artisan Nguyen Van Trung said: "Previously, rattan and bamboo products for production could be easily purchased from the northern mountainous provinces, but now the supply from this region is seriously lacking, we have to import raw materials from Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia..., so production costs are pushed up and we cannot take the initiative in the source of raw materials". According to the Economic Department of Chuong My district, the district currently has 142 collective units, cooperatives, and enterprises of 32 communes and towns specializing in the production of rattan, bamboo, leaves, and grass products. Each year, these units consume about 600 tons of rattan; 700 tons of reeds; 500,000 bamboo, reed, and reed trees; 100,000 bamboo trees; and 500 tons of reed grass. Currently, raw materials are increasingly scarce, while product prices are controlled by importers, so income from rattan and bamboo weaving is low. In the context of raw material shortage, rattan, bamboo, and reed weaving households in Chuong My district are cooperating with research, processing, and handling units of raw materials from papaya, squash, and banana trees. Artisans and skilled workers have researched and created designs from the above materials to create handicraft products that ensure technical and aesthetic standards for export and have initially been well received by customers. This is considered an effective solution to the problem of the current shortage of raw materials for rattan, bamboo and woven rattan production. However, Hanoi has difficulty in having local raw materials for craft villages. Therefore, in the long term, rattan and bamboo weaving villages hope that the city and Chuong My district will support cooperation with provinces to build sustainable and long-term raw material areas to serve production. Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/chuong-my-giai-bai-toan-nguyen-lieu-cho-san-pham-ocop-681312.html