Sustainable development of OCOP products from livestock and aquaculture

Thai Binh has 194 OCOP products, of which the livestock and aquaculture industry contributes more than 40 products. Products in the livestock and aquaculture sector that meet OCOP standards have gradually affirmed their quality and reputation with consumers, creating a new trend for farmers and businesses in rural areas in the province to develop their economy.

Diem Dien fish sauce from Thai Thuy district - 3-star OCOP product.

Product development from advantage

Promoting the strengths of the coastal district, after more than 4 years of actively implementing the development of OCOP products, Thai Thuy district now has 40 typical and unique products recognized as OCOP products, including 12 products from livestock and aquaculture. The products have become prestigious brands for consumers, contributing to increasing income, creating jobs for people, and promoting socio-economic development in rural areas.

Visiting the Hong Ngoc anchovy production facility in Thuy Xuan commune, the working atmosphere is very bustling, each person has a step such as drying fish, steaming fish, packaging products... Mr. Nguyen Dinh Tuyen, the owner of the facility said: My facility takes advantage of available raw materials from the fishing industry to create OCOP Hong Ngoc anchovy products with the flavor and identity of the sea. To build the Hong Ngoc anchovy brand, I invested more than 1 billion VND to build a closed-scale factory to process fish. After being recognized as a 3-star OCOP product, Hong Ngoc anchovies are very popular with consumers, especially in the markets of big cities. Currently, the facility sells 3 - 5 tons of dried fish/month, creating jobs for 20 workers with an income of 7 - 8 million VND/person/month.

According to Mr. Ngo Van Duan, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Director of Dong Xuyen General Livestock Enterprise (Tien Hai): The unit was established in 2019. Since Dong Xuyen sea duck eggs were recognized as 4-star OCOP products, the product value has been enhanced, and the product has a foothold in the market inside and outside the province. In particular, Dong Xuyen duck eggs and duck meat products are available in supermarkets and are loved by consumers. We always strive to bring product quality along with the brand. Following the success, these two products were also recognized as the golden brand of Vietnamese agriculture in 2021.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hinh, Director of Minh Hoa H4G Co., Ltd., Duyen Hai Commune (Hung Ha) said: OCOP products help consumers locate and choose the right quality products and services. This is the assessment and recognition of state management agencies on product quality and the subject producing that product. From the advantage of OCOP products, Minh Hoa H4G Co., Ltd. has provided the market with 3 main products including boneless tilapia, braised tilapia with soy sauce and tilapia floss. On average, the company consumes 4 - 5 quintals of commercial tilapia per day, and sells 1.5 - 2 quintals of boneless tilapia per day.

Processing boneless tilapia at Minh Hoa H4G Company Limited (Hung Ha).

Towards sustainability

OCOP products are evaluated and classified according to the national criteria for evaluating and classifying OCOP products based on many different aspects such as quality, community value, cultural value, production and commercial capacity of the subject. At the same time, the results of OCOP product classification also determine product development opportunities, the ability to participate in and benefit from State support mechanisms and policies.

Mr. Do Van Trinh, Vice Chairman of Tien Hai District People's Committee, said: Tien Hai District has established an OCOP Association with 27 members who are OCOP product owners in the district with the goal of building, promoting and introducing OCOP products with the common brand "14/10 agricultural products" to consumers. Thanks to that, many farmers have increased their sales revenue, connected with a number of associations, industries, cooperatives and partners to expand the market for OCOP products. Many subjects are individual business households, cooperatives and enterprises that have chosen livestock and aquatic products such as ducks, frogs, shrimp and fish to invest in processing machines into local OCOP products. Most of the products are consumed stably, bringing profits, creating motivation for the subjects to continue investing in improving the product quality, meeting the increasing consumption demand, while contributing to promoting OCOP products from livestock and aquatic products of the district to consumers in and outside the province.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Huy, Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vu Thu district, said that with the available potential and strengths, along with the strong promotion of innovation and application of science and technology, OCOP products are expected to develop strongly in the coming time. For Vu Thu district, from 2021 to now, 30 products have been recognized as OCOP products, of which 16 products have achieved 4 stars and 14 products have achieved 3 stars.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the construction and development of production linkages according to the agricultural value chain associated with the OCOP program has brought high efficiency. After being certified as OCOP products, many products originating from livestock and aquaculture have been selected by the subjects to invest in improving quality, diversifying designs, and ensuring food hygiene and safety. To date, there are 128 production facilities in 8 districts and cities with OCOP products (37 enterprises, 48 cooperatives, 43 business households) with 194 3-star and 4-star OCOP products, including more than 40 products from livestock and aquaculture. It can be seen that the construction of OCOP products has been, is and will be the right direction, opening up many opportunities, bringing economic efficiency to many people, helping to increase product value, and increasing competitiveness in the market.