Delegates visited the OCOP product display area of Phu Luong district
We had the opportunity to visit the Cooperative of Sticky Corn Products (On Luong, Phu Luong, Thai Nguyen) while its members were busy packaging products according to customer orders. Ms. Ma Thi Thuy Lan, a member of the cooperative, shared that after their sticky corn rice was recognized as an OCOP product at the end of 2021, the cooperative has focused on investing in product design, packaging, and traceability labels to meet the diverse preferences of customers. They have also actively participated in various fairs and exhibitions both within and outside the province, promoting their products through e-commerce channels and on social media platforms like Zalo and Facebook to explore new customers and markets. Currently, besides retail sales, the Cooperative of Sticky Corn Products has signed two contracts to supply 3.5 tons of sticky corn rice per year to the Clean Agricultural Products Cooperative Huyen Han (Thai Nguyen City) and the Agriculture and Forestry Cooperative Phu Thuong (Vo Nhai). Additionally, the cooperative has invested in packaging and labels for rice-based products such as cakes and com (young sticky rice) to further expand their market and establish a brand for their local sticky corn rice products.
After 3 years of implementing the OCOP Program, Phu Luong district has achieved recognition for 16 products from 11 entities by the Thai Nguyen Provincial People’s Committee, with ratings of 3 stars or higher. Among them, 6 products have achieved 4-star ratings, and 10 products have earned 3 stars. The recognized OCOP products include tea, honey, sticky rice, traditional square sticky rice cake (banh chung) and canna vermicelli. The success in obtaining these sweet fruits of the OCOP Program is attributed to the local authorities’ attention and guidance in implementing the program in various communes, towns, and production entities. They have implemented practical solutions linked to the local new rural development movement. Specifically, Phu Luong district has tasked the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development with advising and guiding the entities to progressively improve and upgrade their products to participate in the OCOP evaluation and ranking process. The district has also created favorable conditions for enterprises, cooperatives, cooperative groups, and households to expand production and enhance cooperation to increase productivity and product quality. They have replicated effective production and business models in the locality to introduce more products to the OCOP Program.
The people of Phu Luong district are gradually expanding the area of VietGap tea and organic tea to improve product value
Being a locality with a strength in tea cultivation, with a total area of nearly 4,200 hectares and an average income of over VND 300 million per hectare per year, Phu Luong district has chosen to develop tea-related products to participate in the OCOP Program. Over the past three years, the district has organized numerous training courses for tea production according to VietGAP and organic standards. Simultaneously, they have focused on developing craft villages, cooperatives, and processing units for tea. In the period from 2021 to 2022, the budgetary funding to support tea cultivation and other strong agricultural products in Phu Luong district amounted to over VND 12 billion, with over VND 7 billion dedicated to supporting tea development. Thanks to these effective measures, the district now boasts 8 tea products that have been recognized to meet OCOP 3-star and 4-star standards.
Delegates visited Vai sticky rice field in On Luong commune (Phu Luong)
Ms. Nguyen Thuy Hang, Vice Chairwoman of Phu Luong District People’s Committee affirmed: The construction of OCOP products has fostered cooperation between cooperatives and households to produce on a larger scale, meeting food safety and hygiene standards. It has also led to the establishment of raw material areas following VietGAP and organic production standards, serving concentrated production, synchronized quality management, and enhanced processing capacity and market development. The OCOP-recognized products not only leverage the local potential and advantages, creating competitive products in the market but also contribute to helping the communes fulfill the production criteria in building new rural areas. Phu Luong district aims to achieve, by 2025, 100% of communes with OCOP products or participating in the OCOP cycle, with at least 50% of communes having products rated 3 stars or above. Additionally, 20% or more of the main products will incorporate digital transformation, linked to rural tourism, and be promoted and marketed on e-commerce platforms. Based on surveys and evaluations of potential and strengths in each locality, the district has concentrated on developing product groups … Along with the orientation of consulting to upgrade and complete products in the direction of quality standardization, the district also organizes training support, technical guidance, branding, product promotion … By the end of 2023, the whole district aims to have 4 more products achieving OCOP products.
Nham Mai
thainguyen.gov.vn
