OCOP Program: Driving force for rural economic development

(GLO)- After 5 years of implementing the One Commune One Product (OCOP) Program, many typical agricultural, forestry and fishery products of the province have been invested in, exploited and processed into OCOP products, meeting market demand. This is the driving force to promote the development of the province's rural economy .

Diverse OCOP products

Mr. Tran Van Van - Deputy Chief of the Provincial New Rural Area Coordination Office - said: Implementing , from 2020 up to now, many enterprises, cooperatives and households have invested in exploiting and processing typical agricultural, forestry and fishery products such as: coffee, pepper, dried bamboo shoots, sun-dried beef, macadamia nuts, rice, medicinal herbs, honey, cashew nuts, bird's nests... creating products recognized as 3-4 star OCOP.

In particular, OCOP products are not only diverse in types but also affirm their quality and brand in the market. It is expected that by the end of 2024, the whole province will have 430 products recognized as 3-4 star OCOP (70 4-star products and 360 3-star products).

Of which, the food group has 384 products, medicinal herbs and products from medicinal herbs have 22 products, beverages have 20 products, handicrafts have 3 products, ornamental plants have 1 product of 166 subjects including households, enterprises, and cooperatives.

Over the past years, Lam Anh Agricultural and Service Cooperative (Tuoh Ktu village, Glar commune, Dak Doa district) has not only cooperated with many Bahnar households to produce clean coffee according to 4C, UTZ, and organic standards, but also invested in equipment and machinery to process coffee products with its own brand.

Mr. Le Huu Anh - Director of the Cooperative - said: The Cooperative has successfully built a coffee product under the brand name Slar Land coffee, which was recognized as a 3-star OCOP in 2020. Currently, the Cooperative has an additional paper filter coffee product and is completing the application for 4-star OCOP recognition.

Muoi Duc sun-dried beef product (Krong Pa district) achieved 3-star OCOP certification. Photo: ND

Gia Lai currently has 5 products proposed for the Central Government to evaluate and recognize OCOP at the national level, including: Hai Binh Gia Lai wood-roasted cashew nut product set (Hai Binh Gia Lai Cashew Nut Joint Stock Company); brown sugar, white sugar, refined sugar (An Khe Sugar Factory) and Phuong Di honey (Phuong Di Honey Cooperative).

“Since participating in the OCOP Program, the cooperative has received a lot of support from the local government from paperwork, funding to participating in promotional activities and trade promotion inside and outside the province.

Thanks to that, each year, the Cooperative's processed coffee products are consumed about 1.5 tons. This is an important premise to encourage people and the Cooperative to produce and process high-quality clean coffee products to increase their value in the market and increase their income" - Mr. Le Huu Anh shared.

Driving force for rural economic development

According to the Deputy Chief of the Provincial Office for New Rural Development Coordination: After 5 years of implementation, the OCOP Program has received attention and strong direction from the province, departments, branches and localities.

However, the implementation process still faces many difficulties such as small-scale production, mainly by households. The number of OCOP products is increasing but not many products have reached large sales systems.

Some entities are not interested in trade promotion and OCOP product brand development. Not only that, many entities are familiar with traditional sales methods, have not proactively converted to digital and approached sales skills through e-commerce platforms.

Currently, the province has 67 products whose OCOP label has expired, but only 30 products have participated in the re-evaluation and re-classification. In particular, the support expenditure level of the OCOP Program is not specific, so the support for participating entities is still facing difficulties and obstacles.

“In the coming time, the Provincial New Rural Area Coordination Office will continue to coordinate with relevant departments, branches and localities to promote propaganda to attract organizations and individuals to participate in the OCOP Program. Organize promotion and marketing of OCOP products, and enhance digital transformation.

In particular, strictly control the quality and food hygiene and safety to create trust for consumers using OCOP products" - Deputy Head of the Provincial New Rural Area Coordination Office said.

Minh Quang macadamia nut OCOP products (Kbang district) are trusted by the market. Photo: ND

Talking to reporters, Mr. Doan Ngoc Co - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development - informed: The OCOP program aims to promote economic development in rural areas. Currently, each month there are over 15 thousand visits to search for information, connect and buy products on the e-commerce platform www.ocopgialai.vn .

Not only that, Gia Lai has 230 OCOP products posted for introduction and sale on e-commerce platforms. This is an optimistic signal in implementing the OCOP Program.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/chuong-trinh-ocop-dong-luc-phat-trien-kinh-te-nong-thon-post303352.html