Sustainable development of OCOP products

In recent years, the One Commune One Product (OCOP) Program has been implemented comprehensively across all localities in the province, bringing tangible economic benefits to the people and serving as a driving force for rural economic development. This initiative is both a key solution and a crucial task in the implementation of the National Target Program on New Rural Development.

The Thanh Son- Phu Tho Sour Meat Cooperative (Thanh Son District) produces bamboo tube sour meat, garlic and chili sour meat, and roasted meat, which meet 4-star OCOP standards, along with traditional sour meat products that hold 3-star OCOP certifications.

Strong Dissemination

Since its implementation in 2018, the OCOP Program has attracted numerous enterprises, cooperatives, and household businesses. Local authorities have actively identified, selected, and developed key, high-potential, and traditional products to transform them into OCOP-certified goods. These efforts focus on large-scale production, forming value chains with stable markets to enhance economic efficiency and increase incomes for rural residents.

To expand the OCOP program, local governments have introduced various support measures, including facilitating access to preferential loans, ensuring a supply of high-quality raw materials, standardizing and inspecting product quality, and promoting product marketing and consumption. These efforts have led to increased participation, particularly from cooperatives, and a growing number of products meeting OCOP standards. This initiative not only bolsters rural economic development but also provides significant social benefits, with labor force participation increasing and comprising 30% women and 14% ethnic minorities.

The OCOP program has brought substantial trade opportunities. Certified products that comply with safety regulations and quality standards have seen their market value increase. Among OCOP-certified businesses, 55% have expanded their production scale, while average revenue growth has reached 29%. Additionally, 50.53% of OCOP products have seen price increases after certification, with an average price rise of 15.7%.

As of the end of 2024, the province boasts 306 OCOP-certified products and product groups rated 3 stars or higher. These include 3 products with a 5-star rating, 47 with 4-star ratings, and 256 with 3-star ratings. Currently, 220 entities participate in the OCOP program, comprising 107 cooperatives, 31 enterprises, and 82 household production facilities. OCOP products are present in 152 out of 207 communes, wards, and towns, with three districts—Yen Lap, Thanh Thuy, and Lam Thao—achieving 100% OCOP product coverage across their communes.

Efforts to promote, introduce, and distribute OCOP products are ongoing through trade fairs and market connection activities. These initiatives help OCOP producers understand market demands, enhance production capacity, diversify their products, and improve packaging and design. In recent years, OCOP products have expanded beyond local consumption and are now available in supermarkets and convenience stores nationwide.

The development of OCOP products has significantly transformed rural production methods, shifting from small-scale operations to integrated value chain production. This transition supports economic and labor restructuring, increases rural incomes, and serves as a catalyst for agricultural and rural development. Furthermore, it plays a crucial role in preserving and promoting traditional products, fostering craft villages, and integrating cooperatives with tourism and the agricultural sector’s restructuring strategy.

For instance, the 3-star OCOP salted chicken product from the Tan Son Salted Chicken Breeding, Production, and Processing Cooperative (Tan Son District) is produced in accordance with strict food hygiene and safety standards.

Comprehensive Solutions

Despite these positive developments, challenges remain in sustaining OCOP products. While the number of certified products has grown rapidly, long-term sustainability is not yet fully ensured due to several factors.

OCOP is a multi-sectoral rural economic development program. However, awareness and understanding of its significance remain limited in some localities, leading to passive implementation. Currently, 73 out of 207 communes, wards, and towns have no OCOP products. Additionally, some areas exhibit low participation rates, and many OCOP-certified products are similar in nature. The province has only three 5-star products, while most others are rated 3 or 4 stars. Moreover, some products, despite being certified, have not maintained sustainable success. A significant 54.5% of products that reached the re-evaluation deadline were not re-certified due to various reasons, with 30 out of 55 failing to be renewed.

Some OCOP products lack competitive design, packaging, and quality, limiting their appeal in distribution networks. Additionally, many OCOP producers are not proactive in marketing and promoting their products, resulting in low sales volumes and production difficulties. Government funding for OCOP support remains limited, falling short of the necessary resources for product development, standardization, and compliance with regulatory requirements.

Therefore, beyond increasing the number of OCOP products, ensuring sustained quality, brand development, and stable distribution channels is essential for long-term success.

Comrade Tran Tu Anh, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, emphasized that OCOP is a highly significant program for rural socio-economic development. However, its sustainable success requires concerted efforts from government authorities, enterprises, cooperatives, and farmers. The key strategy is to develop branded products within structured value chains, leveraging local raw materials, cultural heritage, and indigenous knowledge. This approach will unlock internal strengths and innovation, fostering product value chains within a circular economy to ensure sustainability.

Furthermore, it is crucial to enhance the initiative, dynamism, creativity, and cooperative spirit of OCOP stakeholders and communities. Only through such coordinated efforts can the province’s OCOP program achieve long-term effectiveness.

Localities should diversify communication and awareness campaigns to educate organizations and individuals about the OCOP program’s objectives and significance. Additionally, annual assessments and classifications of OCOP products must be conducted rigorously to ensure fairness, objectivity, and compliance, without focusing solely on quantity. Regular inspections and quality monitoring should also be strengthened post-certification.

Continuous support is needed to improve product classification, upgrade and standardize OCOP products, and enhance branding elements such as logos, packaging, and promotional materials. Assistance in intellectual property registration, certification for safe production standards (e.g., VietGAP, GlobalGAP), and traceability systems is also vital. Investment in brand protection measures will further enhance product value and competitiveness.

Moreover, marketing and promotional activities for OCOP products should be strengthened through various channels. Encouraging businesses and individuals to invest in OCOP introduction and distribution centers, linked with tourism services, will enhance product visibility. Digitalization efforts, including traceability systems and anti-counterfeit measures, should also be accelerated to modernize the sector and ensure consumer trust.

Phuong Thao