Developing OCOP products in cooperatives

In recent years, many cooperatives in the province have proactively and actively participated in the “One Commune One Product” Program (OCOP), contributing to improving product quality, increasing competitiveness, expanding consumption markets, and creating motivation for cooperatives to develop.

The whole province has 581 active cooperatives with over 105,000 members, including more than 400 agricultural cooperatives. The development of diverse forms of cooperation, increased consulting and service support for members participating in the OCOP Program is a good opportunity for cooperatives to affirm product quality, increase competitiveness, and expand markets. In particular, for places that own specialty, indigenous agricultural products, many cooperatives have chosen to follow their own, specific direction associated with the OCOP Program to promote advantages in quality, cultural and traditional factors of production and consumption.

Currently, there are 150 cooperatives that have products, of which 127 cooperative products meet OCOP standards of 3 stars or higher, accounting for 49.03% of the total number of OCOP products in the province (including 30 4-star products and 97 3-star products). Developing cooperatives associated with OCOP products plays a very important role, supporting the process of shifting thinking from agricultural production to agricultural economics, actively participating in the added value chain, thereby gradually forming OCOP products that is associated with the goal of multi-value economic - social, cultural, environmental development... With flexibility, proactivity, and sensitivity to grasp the market, many cooperatives with OCOP products not only provides products and services to meet customer needs but also link production and consumption of raw materials for people.

Lien Gia Trang Agricultural Product Production and Processing Cooperative, Thuy Lieu commune, Cam Khe district was established in September 2019 with 10 members, specializing in producing locally strong products such as: Fish with roasted rice flour, pickled cassava, pickled apricot bamboo shoots...

Mr. Tran Van Cong - Director of the Cooperative said: “Recognizing the importance of the OCOP Program, the Cooperative has changed the method of production and processing of products according to OCOP standards. Members are more aware of production and food hygiene and safety issues to get the best finished products to consumers. Currently, the Cooperative’s pickled cassava products meet OCOP 3-star standards and are consumed in large supermarket systems such as Co.opmart, GO!, WinMart... and on e-commerce trading floors. Being certified to meet OCOP standards makes it easier for products to reach consumers and find a place in supermarket systems. Thanks to that, the income of cooperative members is 15 - 20% higher than before.”

It can be seen that the OCOP Program implemented recently has brought positive results, increasing product value and profits of the subjects. When participating in the OCOP Program, cooperatives have improved capacity in building business plans, production management, and are supported with consulting on product development and improvement, branding, introduction, and promotion of products... Since then, cooperatives in the province have continuously innovated, improved quality, packaging, standardized products, met market requirements, mobilized resources to expand production development, and promote participation in the OCOP Program.

Thanh Nga