Tien Hai: Enhancing the value of OCOP products

Implementing the One Commune One Product (OCOP) program, Tien Hai district has achieved many positive results in recent times. OCOP products after being classified help increase value, expand consumption markets and increase sales for the subjects.

OCOP product processing facility of Ngoc Minh Seafood Company Limited, Nam Thinh commune (Tien Hai).

Taking advantage of the coastal area with a strong seafood exploitation industry, in recent years, Ngoc Minh Seafood Company Limited (Nam Thinh Commune) has focused on purchasing and processing seafood, while also paying attention to building a brand for the product. Every year, the Company purchases, processes and consumes about 1,800 tons of various seafood to supply many restaurants, eateries, and food businesses in and outside the province.

Mr. Pham Van Dong, Director of Ngoc Minh Seafood Company Limited, said: Recognizing the value of the OCOP program, from 2022 to present, the Company has invested in expanding production and successfully built 6 OCOP products that achieved 3 provincial stars, including: dried sea shrimp, shrimp buds, grouper fish cakes, shrimp cakes, fish cakes, and braised eel fish in clay pot. Since being recognized as an OCOP product, the Company's products have been widely known by consumers inside and outside the province. Currently, the Company's processed seafood products are available in many supermarkets and stores in Thai Binh, Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Hai Duong provinces... In addition, the Company has also promoted sales through the Company's Facebook and Zalo channels, and the Tien Hai District OCOP Association. From there, it has helped the Company increase sales, reaching more than 16 billion VND per year.

To date, Tien Hai district has 42 OCOP products of 27 entities in 18 communes recognized with the "14/10 agricultural products" brand, of which 4 products have achieved 4-star OCOP, the rest are 3-star products. The district's OCOP products belong to many different production fields, from agricultural products such as rice, eggs, meat, vegetables, garlic, peanuts, mushrooms to seafood such as fish, shrimp, prawns, squid, snails, frogs, and processed products such as ham, sausage, vermicelli, wine, braised fish or medicinal products such as tea, essential oils, rattan and bamboo handicrafts, bamboo mats, etc.

Mr. Do Thanh Trung, Deputy Head of the District Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said: In order for the OCOP program to achieve good results, in the past time, the Department has actively advised the District People's Committee to implement the contents according to the plan. Along with that is the active participation of all levels, sectors and localities in the implementation. In addition, the district has supported the subjects to access markets through product promotion activities and supported each OCOP product and subject with 80 million VND; guided the subjects to participate in many fairs in and outside the province to display and promote local products.

Although it was only established at the beginning of this year, the OCOP Association of Tien Hai district has clearly demonstrated its role in supporting members in effective production and business activities, building and promoting OCOP products with the common brand "14/10 agricultural products". Not only actively participating in fairs, the Association also set up Facebook and Zalo pages and opened stores to display and introduce products right at the Association's headquarters. Thanks to that, many members increased their revenue from sales, connecting with a number of associations, industries, cooperatives, and customer partners to expand the market for OCOP products.

According to Mr. Bui Van Khai, Director of Seafood Processing and Production Company No. 6 (Nam Cuong Commune): The Company currently has a 3-star OCOP product "Tien Chau fish sauce". When joining the OCOP Association of Tien Hai District, the Company also received help from members to connect with units and businesses consuming the products; support sales through electronic sales channels; participate in promoting and displaying products at fairs. Thanks to that, the Company was able to access and expand the product consumption market, increasing sales compared to before.

Mr. Ngo Van Duan, Chairman of the OCOP Association of Tien Hai district, said: Currently, the Association has 27 members with 42 OCOP products. To support the consumption of products for members, from the beginning of the year, the Association has developed plans and programs to introduce OCOP products of members participating in trade promotion programs and fairs; launched an e-commerce platform to sell products for members on social networking channels. Through these sales channels, OCOP products of the associations have been consumed quickly and have been chosen and trusted by customers in many places.

In 2024, Tien Hai district strives to have at least 15 more OCOP products, bringing the total number of OCOP products in the district to over 50 products. In order to expand the consumption market for OCOP products, the district will consolidate and upgrade OCOP products that have been evaluated and ranked; promote trade promotion, orient OCOP entities to participate in modern sales channels such as: supermarket systems, convenience stores, e-commerce trading floors; strengthen management and improve food safety quality of OCOP products.