Building OCOP products from key agricultural products

Many OCOP products of Yen Bai province are exported to foreign markets. Photo: Thanh Tien.

Cooperative exports Shan Tuyet tea products

It is no longer strange that the names of local specialties such as: Suoi Giang tea, Seng Cu Muong Lo rice, Dai Minh grapefruit, Van Yen cinnamon, Tan Tu Le sticky rice, Gioi Phien vermicelli, Tram Tau taro, Mu Cang Chai forest honey, Bat Do Tran Yen bamboo shoots, Thac Ba lake dried fish... have created the brand of Yen Bai agricultural products on domestic e-commerce trading floors with the quality and reputation of 3-star and 4-star OCOP products.

The success of the “One Commune One Product” (OCOP) program has contributed to the development of local key products, gradually transforming from fragmented agricultural production to commodity production in the direction of value chain linkage, according to standards, regulations, traceability, meeting market demand... Thereby, agricultural products of Yen Bai farmers are favored by consumers inside and outside the province, gradually reaching out to large markets in the world such as China, India, Japan, Korea, the US and European countries...

Yen Bai focuses on developing OCOP products from key agricultural products. Photo: Thanh Tien.

Suoi Giang Cooperative, Van Chan District is one of the typical examples of effective implementation of the OCOP program. The process of building product designs and brands has helped businesses perfect, consolidate, and overcome all stages of the production and business chain in a scientific and effective manner.

With the goal of "4 decisions" including "determined to regain the brand for Suoi Giang tea area - determined to build a team of indigenous workers - determined to preserve and protect the precious tea area - determined not to retreat", with the support of the state, the cooperative has invested more than 2 billion VND to build a factory, modern equipment with a capacity of 2 tons of fresh tea buds/day. In addition, collaborating with a number of experts in the tea industry to train members and workers....

Up to now, the Cooperative has become one of the units with a factory that meets HACCP standards; the raw material area has been granted a geographical indication certificate, and the tea trees have been numbered to trace the origin of the growing area. In August 2023, the two 4-star OCOP products of Suoi Giang Cooperative, Shan Tuyet Red Tea and Shan Tuyet Leaf Tea, have ensured the criteria according to European standards to participate in export.

Suoi Giang Shan Tuyet tea products have been exported to the UK and Japan. Photo: Thanh Tien.

Ms. Lam Thi Kim Thoa, Director of Suoi Giang Cooperative, said that the Cooperative currently has 6 types of products named Tuyet Son Tra with good quality, packaged with beautiful designs, gradually dominating the domestic and foreign markets, including 2 products, Shan Tuyet Red Tea and Shan Tuyet Leaf Tea, which have met European standards and are exported to the UK and Japan markets. The average annual revenue of the Cooperative is 2.2 billion VND, profit is over 350 million VND; the average income of workers in the Cooperative is 5.7 - 6 million VND/person/month.

“The goal of the cooperative is not only to develop high-quality tea products and build the Suoi Giang tea brand, but also to preserve the natural organic tea area, create income and encourage people to develop eco-tourism to benefit from the land considered the cradle of ancient tea trees,” Ms. Thoa shared.

Many OCOP products from regional specialties

Mu Cang Chai is a mountainous district with complex terrain and climate, and low farming skills of the people. With the policy of "turning difficulties into advantages", in recent years, Mu Cang Chai district authorities have proactively coordinated with functional sectors, enterprises, and cooperatives to build agricultural commodity models suitable for the local climate and soil to create jobs, increase income, and gradually transfer technology to the people.

Now in Mu Cang Chai, many commodity production areas have been formed such as: rose growing area of ​​over 100 hectares, clean vegetable growing area and other products such as shiitake mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, bell peppers, tomatoes, chayote... over 50 hectares, high-quality rice production area of ​​over 700 hectares with Tan and Seng cu sticky rice varieties. Up to now, the whole district has 15 3-star OCOP products, mainly typical key agricultural products that are grown, harvested, processed cleanly and have a stable consumption market.

The OCOP program helps improve people's lives and change small-scale, fragmented production methods in Mu Cang Chai. Photo: Thanh Tien.

Mr. Luong Van Thu, Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Mu Cang Chai district, added that the OCOP program has been creating a new momentum, awakening the potential of agricultural production not only in favorable areas but also in remote areas. Many crops and products from spontaneous and fragmented areas have become commodities, bringing high economic value, helping to form specialized production commodities in the direction of expanding acreage, improving productivity, quality and product value.

With the view of maximizing the potential and advantages of land, climate, and natural conditions to develop the agricultural economy, gradually making Yen Bai province one of the key provinces in the Northern mountainous region in terms of clean agricultural production and organic agriculture. The province has issued policies to support businesses, organizations, and individuals in developing raw material areas, investing in processing machinery, designing packaging, models, and promoting trade to bring OCOP products to domestic and foreign markets.

Up to now, Yen Bai province has 297 OCOP products, of which 25 products have 4 stars, 272 products have 3 stars. OCOP products in the province have been different, have their own characteristics, many products have collective brands, geographical indications affirming their advantages in the market, and are trusted by consumers.

Currently, the whole Yen Bai province has nearly 300 OCOP products. Photo: Thanh Tien.

According to Mr. Hoang Huu Do, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Yen Bai province, the OCOP program has created a breakthrough in the socio-economic development of rural areas; contributing to restructuring the agricultural sector, developing the rural economy associated with building a modern and sustainable new countryside. The orientation for developing OCOP products of the province in the coming time is not to pursue quantity but to improve quality, focus resources on developing existing products, perfecting conditions to upgrade products to meet the increasing demand of the market...

The OCOP program has received strong support from the government and relevant agencies, from consulting and training people on production and processing techniques to supporting product consumption connections. OCOP products are not only sold in the domestic market but are also brought to supermarket systems, clean food stores, and even exported to many countries. This helps people increase their income, preserve and promote the value of traditional agricultural products.

Source: https://nongnghiep.vn/xay-dung-san-pham-ocop-tu-nong-san-dac-trung-chu-luc-d420026.html