OCOP program: Raising the bar for local agricultural products

– With the potential and advantages of agricultural products, along with the supporting mechanisms and policies of the province, after more than 2 years of implementation, the program “One Commune One Product” (OCOP) has helped to improve the value of local agricultural products.

On August 13, 2019, the Provincial People’s Committee approved the OCOP Program project in Lang Son province for the period of 2019 – 2020, with a vision to 2030. In order to effectively implement the program, the Provincial People’s Committee has established and promulgated the operating regulations of the OCOP Product Evaluation and Classification Council and the advisory group to help meet the requirements of directing the program implementation.

The Provincial People’s Committee focused on the training to improve the ability of cadres who manage and guide the implementation of the OCOP program, in which the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is assigned to directly coordinate with implementation units. From 2019 to now, the department has organized 30 training seminars to implement the OCOP Program with 1,810 attendees. Thereby, helping cadres from the province to the grassroots to grasp the basic knowledge of the program to propagate and guide subjects and communities to implement.

People buy goods at the week of display and introduction of agricultural products, OCOP products in 2021 at Vincom Center (Lang Son city)

Simultaneously, propaganda and awareness raising activities about the OCOP Program were also coordinated by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Specifically, from 2019 to now, the department has organized and integrated 85 propaganda conferences for 5,090 people, distributed 5,090 sets of documents about the program. Through propaganda, people’s awareness of the meaning and benefits of participating in the OCOP Program has been increased, arousing positivity, initiative and creativity among the people and community.

In addition, the Provincial People’s Committee has focused on mobilizing all resources to implement the program. From 2018 to 2020, the total mobilized resources reached over VND 8.6 billion (of which, the central budget is over VND 8.5 billion, the capital of the program participants is VND 110 million), in particular, in 2021 the budget is over 2.2 billion VND and use to support businesses in building OCOP products, promoting product trade…

Along with that, the People’s Committees of districts and city have actively and proactively implemented the program. Mrs. Nong Thi Yen Vinh, Head of Dinh Lap District’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said: “Currently, the whole district has 3 products that have achieved 3-star and 4-star OCOP. After being “starred”, the value of the products is increased thanks to the large consumption market both in domestic and foreign. Specifically: Oolongs tea, Bat Tien tea of Thai Binh Tea Joint Stock Company achieved 4-star OCOP in 2019, currently, products are not only consumed domestically but also exported to Taiwan, Russia, and China, revenue in 2020 reached about 15 billion VND. Moreover, district OCOP products are invested in packaging and labels, so people prefer to choose them as gifts.”

After more than 2 years of implementation, the provincial OCOP product evaluation and classification council has evaluated and classified 30 OCOP products (Exceeding the target set out by the OCOP program by the end of 2020, the province has standardized at least 15 OCOP products or more). Particularly from the beginning of 2021 until now, the whole province has evaluated and classified 31 OCOP products, bringing the total to 61 OCOP products (of which, there are 17 4-star products, 44 3-star products).

Mr. Pham Tuyen, Director of the Rural Development Sub-Department, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said: “Through the implementation of the program, it has brought practical benefits to people, production households, cooperatives and businesses. The value of OCOP products has been increased thanks to the traceability stamp, packaging, labels, quality assurance of food safety and hygiene because the products are all produced in the direction of good agriculture (VietGAP, GlobalGAP, organic) and comply with safety and hygiene in the processing stage… thereby, creating trust among consumers and increasing the competitiveness of products. Especially, if in the past, the products were mainly consumed in the locality and some neighboring provinces, after being “starred”, the product has expanded its market presence in the large supermarket system (Big C, Vinmart…), for domestic consumption and export to foreign markets, contributing to raising the bar for OCOP products in the province, bringing these products to domestic and foreign consumers.”

Mrs. Chu Thi Hanh, owner of Chu Hanh jelly production facility (Na Sam town, Van Lang district) said: “In early 2020, I registered black jelly products to participate in the OCOP program. By October 2020, the facility’s products had obtained the provincial 3-star OCOP certification. Since then, the amount of jelly sold in the market has increased; the price has been stable and is highly appreciated by consumers. Previously, each day, the establishment only produced 80 kg of finished jelly, when OCOP certified, the order increased, on average a day, the establishment produced and consumed 200 kg of jelly, the value reached 6 million VND/day (an increase of 4 million VND/day compared to before.”

The results achieved in the past time have confirmed that the OCOP Program has an important meaning, contributing to improving product quality and creating sustainable values. In the coming time, all levels and sectors will continue to promote the implementation of programs and goals in the period of 2021 – 2025, the province will standardize over 80 OCOP products, of which 40 products will achieve 3-5 stars in order to create high-value products that contribute to promoting rural economic development in the area.