Enhancing OCOP product value

Over the past time, the One Commune One Product (OCOP) Program has promoted production development and increased income for people in Tam Nong district, contributing to economic restructuring and rural labor structures. Preserve and promote the values of traditional products in the area.

Ms. Le Thi Tang’s family in area 1, Hien Quan commune, supplies the market each year with nearly 200kg of dried mistletoe.

In Hien Quan commune, rice mistletoe products have brought income from several dozen to several hundred million dong each year for households. Currently, there are more than 360 purple rice plants in the commune, owned by about 30 households. As a parasitic plant that lives on rice stems, although it easily brings high income, this model is very difficult to replicate because rice mistletoe grows completely naturally and cannot be grafted or transplanted with seeds. Ms. Le Thi Tang in Area 1 is one of the households that currently owns a large number of rice mistletoe plants in the commune, with more than 100 purple rice plants, of which nearly 20 are being harvested. The family harvested about 2 quintals of dried mistletoe, bringing in an income of nearly VND200 million. Since the rice mistletoe met OCOP 3-star standards, my family’s products have been sold to customers both inside and outside the province, and output has increased by 20%–30%.

To enhance the value of products from rice mistletoe while promoting production links and supplying products to the market, Hien Quan Irrigation Service Cooperative coordinates with An Hung Agricultural Service Cooperative to process mistletoe. Rice plants are converted into two main products: dried rice mistletoe and rice mistletoe extract, which are used in herbal drinks that are highly appreciated by consumers. Ms. Nguyen Thi Dinh, Director of Hien Quan Irrigation Services Cooperative, said: “Thanks to using advanced production processes, the cooperative has produced products from rice mistletoe, the main one being herbal tea of high quality, ensuring food safety and hygiene, contributing to building the OCOP product brand for the locality in particular and Tam Nong district in general, creating jobs for many workers”.

Currently, in Tam Nong district, there are 12 products recognized by the Provincial People’s Committee as products meeting OCOP standards, such as: Rice mistletoe, Hien Quan commune; fish in Nung field, Dan Quyen commune; Ninh Diep chicken eggs, Van Xuan commune; Minh Quan corn wine, Te Le commune; Viet Ha Thai banana, Bac Son commune; Cordyceps sinensis, Thanh Uyen commune; Lam Son hill chicken, Lam Son commune... Each product carries a story about the production process, taking advantage of available local ingredients, a safe production process, ensuring nutritional criteria such as being nutritious, medicinal, capable of development, well received by consumers, and a product that brings a stable source of income to production and business establishments.

Tam Nong district has many solutions to connect and create product chain links; Support in building logos, product brands, printing labels, packaging, registering codes, barcodes, electronic stamps to trace product origins, and implementing the policy of rewarding products that achieve OCOP. Promote the application of information technology in developing rural industries and tourism services associated with innovation, promoting processing, building brands, and improving the quality and value of OCOP products. At the same time, promote trade promotion, market development, and OCOP products; apply digital technology to product consumption; Connecting markets inside and outside the district. Strengthen cooperation activities and expand the OCOP product network in the region; exchange experience, training, and trade promotion for OCOP products.

Along with that, upgrading and perfecting products, focusing on innovation and improving technology and technical processes. Expanding local raw material areas; Manage product quality, complete packaging and label products according to regulations in accordance with market requirements. With potential products, review and select products associated with local strengths. Prioritize new product ideas, especially processed products, deep processing, traditional products, etc. Enhancing the value of Tam Nong district’s OCOP products has promoted and improved the capacity of local businesses in OCOP. Traditional, key, and typical local products are restored, replicated, and developed in the direction of large-scale goods, ensuring quality standards, product value, and building brands to increase competition in the market.

Hoang Huong