Elevating the Value of Local Agricultural Products

The “One Commune, One Product” (OCOP) program continues to affirm its vital role in elevating the value of local agricultural products in Phu Tho Province. Through innovating production mindsets, standardizing quality, building brands, and expanding markets, many distinctive agricultural products have transcended traditional scales to assert their position. This has contributed to rural economic development aligned with agricultural restructuring, increasing added value and sustainable development.

Cordyceps mushrooms from the Nam Duong High-Tech Agricultural Cooperative meet 3-star OCOP standards, bringing significant economic efficiency.

One of the prominent results of the 2025 OCOP Program is the profound shift in the production mindset of farmers, cooperatives, and rural enterprises. Entities have transitioned from fragmented, small-scale production to value-chain-based models, focusing on standards, traceability, and branding.

Cordyceps mushrooms have long been known as “golden herbs” in traditional medicine, used to boost the immune system, support chronic disease treatment, and improve overall health. However, natural cordyceps are rare and expensive, limiting consumer access.

Recognizing this potential and desiring to bring the product closer to the community, in 2020, Mr. Pham Van Tuan in Van Phu Ward began researching and producing artificial cordyceps. Starting as an experimental cultivation model, the Nam Duong High-Tech Agricultural Cooperative, owned by Mr. Tuan, invested in factories and modern equipment. They applied a closed production process according to HACCP standards with strict quality control. In 2022, “Nam Duong Cordyceps” was recognized with a 3-star OCOP rating, opening opportunities to scale up and build the brand. The cooperative continued to refine packaging, labels, and integrated QR codes for traceability, developing a nationwide distribution system. On average, the facility supplies 70kg of freeze-dried cordyceps monthly, generating hundreds of millions of VND in annual profit and creating jobs for local laborers. The success of Nam Duong Cordyceps demonstrates that when the production mindset is innovated, agricultural products can achieve significantly higher value.

By the end of 2025, the province had 609 OCOP products rated 3 stars or higher, including 503 3-star products, 100 4-star products, and 6 5-star products. An additional 81 products are expected to be evaluated, bringing the total to approximately 690. These figures reflect the widespread impact of the OCOP Program on rural socio-economic life and confirm the province’s correct direction in leveraging internal resources and local advantages.

Beyond specific models, the 2025 OCOP Program created strong momentum for rural economic development. Support activities were implemented synchronously, from advising on policy mechanisms to organizing product grading and trade promotion.

During the year, the province facilitated OCOP entities' participation in major trade fairs and exhibitions, such as the Northern Delta Trade Promotion and Supply-Demand Connection Fair, the Vietnam-China International Trade Fair, and OCOP promotion events in Hanoi, Hung Yen, Lao Cai, and Ca Mau. Through these efforts, Phu Tho’s OCOP products have gradually accessed larger markets, enhanced competitiveness, and secured stable consumption.

Alongside trade promotion, training for OCOP entities has been a priority. Training sessions on improving packaging, designs, and e-commerce sales have helped cooperatives and rural businesses adapt to digital market trends and expand distribution channels.

Mr. Nguyen Tuan Oanh, Director of the Hung Xuyen Agricultural Cooperative in Chi Dam Commune, stated: "Recognizing OCOP as a sustainable path to expand markets and enhance local agricultural value, I actively participate in training and trade fairs. Consequently, our hometown’s specialty pomelo brand is becoming more widely known, contributing to higher incomes for local residents."

Notably, the OCOP Program has positively impacted collective economic development and sustainable poverty reduction. The province now has 1,148 active agricultural cooperatives, many of which are directly involved in the OCOP value chain. By the end of 2025, the provincial poverty rate dropped to 2.68%, surpassing the target, with the OCOP Program identified as a key factor in promoting sustainable livelihoods.

The resonance of the OCOP Program is shown not only in the quantity of products but also in the formation of a new class of farmers and rural entrepreneurs—those who dare to think, act, and invest in quality and branding. This is a crucial resource for Phu Tho’s agriculture to develop modernly and sustainably. Based on these achievements, maintaining product quality, expanding markets, and linking OCOP with tourism and services will be the strategic direction for Ancestral Land agricultural products to assert their position domestically and aim toward export.

Hong Nhung