OCOP "star" brightens rural economy

BHG - Building value chains, enhancing local specialties associated with the goal of sustainable development... That is the direction that Tan Quang commune (Bac Quang) is persistently implementing through the One Commune One Product (OCOP) Program. From the advantages of traditional agricultural production, cooperatives and people are constantly innovating, upgrading the OCOP "star" rating, creating a driving force to promote rural economic development.

Tan Quang is a purely agricultural locality with the majority of the population being ethnic Mong, Dao, Tay, Hoa... The advantages of soil and climate have created favorable conditions for people to develop key crops such as rice, corn, along with more than 2.5 hectares of precious medicinal plants such as soapberry, papaya, lemongrass, Panax notoginseng... This is a valuable resource for the commune to develop typical agricultural products, gradually increasing production value.

OCOP products of Nhat Minh Cooperative are displayed at the booth introducing and selling typical products of the province.

By the end of 2024, Bac Quang district will have 60 OCOP products with 3-4 provincial stars. Tan Quang commune alone has 3 products with 3-star standards, including: Thuan Mai Papaya Leaf Tea (Xuan Hoa village); ornamental peach tree model (My Tan village) and Tuu Vuong wine (Vinh Quang village). These products not only contribute to raising the brand of local agricultural products but also affirm the positive role of the OCOP program in transforming agricultural production thinking towards commodity, professionalism and sustainability.

One of the typical models is Nhat Minh Cooperative, with Ms. Dinh Thi Thu as Director. Taking advantage of traditional remedies from papaya leaves and flowers, Ms. Thu and the members of the Cooperative have researched and successfully produced Thuan Mai Papaya Leaf and Flower Tea. The product has been rated 3-star OCOP and is completing the upgrade dossier. Combining local ingredients with modern drying and roasting technology, the tea product not only retains its natural flavor but also ensures food hygiene and safety, and is trusted and chosen by consumers in and outside the province. In addition, the Cooperative has also developed soapberry shampoo in filter bags, contributing to product diversification and increasing the value of use from familiar ingredients.

Ms. Dinh Thi Thu, Director of Thuan Mai Cooperative shared: “With the motto of production linkage, Nhat Minh Cooperative has signed a stable raw material purchasing contract for households in Tan Quang commune and neighboring areas... Every year, tons of dried papaya leaves and flowers are consumed, creating a stable output, ensuring a source of quality raw materials for processing”. Papaya leaf and flower tea products are currently distributed nationwide through traditional channels and e-commerce platforms, bringing the Cooperative a revenue of more than 2 billion VND/year. Currently, the Cooperative creates regular jobs for 4 workers with an average income of 7 million VND/person/month.

Hai Khang Cooperative (Bac Quang) has many products meeting Ocop standards. Photo: Contributor

Ms. Hoang Thi Kieu, a worker at the processing workshop of Nhat Minh Cooperative, shared: “I have worked at the workshop for nearly 10 years, thanks to the Cooperative, I have found a stable job. My family has also expanded the cultivation of papaya to provide raw materials and increase income”. From a folk remedy, the Papaya Tea product not only brings economic value but also contributes to preserving and promoting the cultural identity - traditional medicine of the highland people. This is also a testament to the clear effectiveness of the OCOP program when it is implemented in the right direction, close to reality and with the support of the government, the Cooperative and the people.

Similar to Nhat Minh Cooperative, Vuong Chi Chi (Hoa ethnic group) has effectively utilized locally available raw materials to develop wine products under the Tuu Vuong brand. The special feature of this product lies in the subtle combination of the family's traditional wine brewing secrets and modern production processes. Mr. Chi said: The main ingredient for making wine is brown rice, purchased directly from households in the district. The wine is brewed with traditional leaf yeast and stored in a sealed cellar for at least one year before being released to the market. During the production process, the product is also processed through a system of modern machinery such as wine filters, aldehyde removal equipment, alcohol concentration meters... to ensure the quality of the wine meets standards, is safe for consumers' health and does not cause fatigue after use.

The combination of traditional elements and modern technology not only helps improve product quality but also builds trust with consumers. On average, each year, Mr. Chi supplies the market with more than 20,000 liters of Tuu Vuong wine that meets 3-star OCOP standards, with a variety of designs, meeting the needs of enjoyment and gift giving. This model not only brings economic value to production households with revenue of up to billions of VND each year, but also contributes to the consumption of local agricultural products, creates jobs and promotes community economic development.

Currently, Tan Quang Commune People's Committee is coordinating with relevant agencies to support OCOP entities in improving product quality, perfecting designs, tracing origins, building brands and promoting trade. In particular, the Papaya Leaf Tea product is expected to achieve a 4-star rating in the near future, marking an important turning point in the journey to bring local agricultural products to the world.

Article and photos: NHU QUYNH

Source: https://baohagiang.vn/moi-vung-que-mot-san-pham/202504/sao-ocop-sang-kinh-te-nong-thon-3b312a4/