OCOP "gives wings" to Yen Bai agricultural products

Director of Mu Cang Chai Construction and General Agricultural Services Cooperative introduces natural flower honey products.

>> Mu Cang Chai honey, a gift from "mother nature"

>> Developing honey products with unique Yen Bai characteristics

After more than 6 years of implementation, the OCOP program in Yen Bai has created a prosperous agricultural picture. From rustic, unbranded products, many local specialties have now been upgraded to higher quality, more professional designs and widely accepted by consumers. Up to now, Yen Bai has had 268 products certified as OCOP, of which 25 products meet 4-star standards and 243 products meet 3-star standards.

Among them, the food group dominates with 201 products, including familiar names such as Suoi Giang Shan Tuyet tea, Seng Cu rice, Gioi Phien vermicelli, Mu Cang Chai sour meat... The herbal group is present with 21 products, notably cinnamon tea, Van Yen cinnamon essential oil, and artichoke extract. The beverage group has 14 products, the handicraft and decoration group has 15 products, and the rural tourism and sales services group has 16 products.

These figures not only reflect the efforts of the government and people, but also affirm the sustainable value of OCOP products in developing the rural economy. Not only stopping at developing the quantity of products, OCOP Yen Bai also focuses on improving quality, improving production processes, meeting food hygiene and safety standards, tracing origin and expanding consumption channels.

Thanks to that, many products have been available in supermarkets, e-commerce platforms and exported abroad. Suoi Giang Shan Tuyet tea is considered the "green gold" of Yen Bai. The ancient tea trees, hundreds of years old, grow naturally at an altitude of over 1,400m, absorbing the essence of heaven and earth to create tea buds as white as snow.

Thanks to the OCOP program, this product has been upgraded from a rustic specialty to a high-end brand, meeting export standards to Japan and Europe. Gioi Phien vermicelli is famous for its natural toughness and crispness, without preservatives. Before participating in OCOP, this product was mainly consumed domestically and did not have a clear brand. Thanks to the support from the program, production facilities have improved processes, applied new technology, eye-catching packaging, and met food safety standards. Currently, Gioi Phien vermicelli is not only available in domestic supermarkets but also seeks to be exported abroad.

Yen Bai’s OCOP journey is not only a story of simple agricultural products but also the crystallization of intelligence, passion and local identity. Each product with a star not only carries quality but also contains the story of culture, people and the land where it was born.

Previously, although being a valuable specialty of the mountains and forests, Mu Cang Chai honey still faced many difficulties in expanding its market. Thanks to the OCOP program, this product has made great strides when the Mu Cang Chai Construction and General Agricultural Services Cooperative invested systematically and applied technology to improve its quality.

Mr. Nguyen Van Toan - Director of the Cooperative said: "Mu Cang Chai's natural flower honey products have been granted a certificate of geographical indication registration by the Intellectual Property Office and the products meet VietGAP standards as well as 3-star OCOP standards. Thanks to that, the selling price is stable at 350,000 - 400,000 VND/liter, nearly double the previous level."

Although OCOP has brought significant successes, the road ahead still has many challenges. Maintaining and improving product quality to meet international standards requires long-term investment in technology, human resources and management models. Some enterprises and cooperatives still face difficulties in expanding markets and connecting with modern distribution channels. In addition, consumers' increasing demands for food safety and traceability also put a lot of pressure on OCOP products.

To overcome these difficulties, localities in the province are implementing long-term fundamental solutions such as: applying technology to production to improve product quality, ensuring export standards; promoting trade promotion, connecting consumption through fairs, e-commerce platforms, large supermarket systems; developing rural tourism associated with OCOP, creating real experiences for tourists, helping to promote products more effectively. In addition, building booths to introduce OCOP products, promoting communication, and building a systematic brand will also be important factors to help Yen Bai OCOP products reach further.

The OCOP journey is not only a story of a rural economic program, but also a journey to conquer the market, affirm the brand and enhance the value of local products. With the support of the government, businesses and people, it is certain that in the future, Yen Bai OCOP products will not only stand firm in the domestic market but also reach further on the world agricultural map.