Nghe An: Practical policies create a "boost" for OCOP products
(Baonghean.vn) - The "One Commune One Product" (OCOP) program has been implemented by the Government and localities over the past 2 years. Recently, at the 17th session, the Provincial People's Council, term XVII, 2016 - 2021, passed a Resolution stipulating a number of support policies for the implementation of the One Commune One Product (OCOP) program in Nghe An province for the period 2021-2025.
Need for support in investment in machinery and equipment
He is the largest consumer of peanut products in Dien Thinh commune (Dien Chau) and also the producer of peanut products.OCOPIn the area, achieving 3 stars in 2020, Mr. Pham Ngoc Thang - Sy Thang Agricultural and Forestry Products Import-Export Company said: To meet customer needs, peanut products must increasingly ensure quality.
This year, for the first time, our company has exported more than 1,200 tons of peanuts through official channels, opening a new direction for Dien Chau peanuts. After the product was recognized as 3 stars, we were supported by the provincial and district People's Committees with 55 million VND for labels, stamps, packaging and market promotion.
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| Peanuts processed to export standards are packaged according to specifications. Photo: Canh Yen |
“We are striving to achieve 4-star OCOP products in 2021. To achieve that goal, along with the efforts of businesses, we need more support from the government in terms of policies. We want to build clean production models in the fields, in order to create safe products. In addition, we need to pay attention to supporting businesses to invest in purchasing machinery and equipment such as modern packaging and oil processing lines, peanut peeling machines to meet food safety production criteria and export requirements,” Mr. Pham Ngoc Thang added.
Discussing the practicality of the policy to support typical rural products, Mr. Phan Van Dien - Director of Pu Mat Medicinal Materials Joint Stock Company, worried: “OCOP products are products produced by farmers and cooperatives in rural villages, which are the part with potential in terms of raw materials, land... but weak in terms of capital capacity, experience and especially lacking in legality when bringing products to the market.
Products when packaged for sale must meet the criteria of labeling, quality, brand and other requirements, so farmers and cooperatives need to be supported in the initial start-up period, not to mention the very expensive investment in science and technology for the products. Another very practical policy, in my opinion, is to support OCOP product introduction and sales points in the city so that city residents know and use OCOP products. Another important support is product communication work."
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| Star-winning products are high-quality agricultural products such as Pu Mat Solanum procumbens, Quynh Luu Spirulina... Photo: Xuan Hoang |
Practical policy
On May 7, 2018, the Prime Minister approved Decision No. 490/QD-TTg on the "One Commune One Product" Program for the period 2018-2020, at Point c, Clause 6, Article 1, stipulating: "Depending on actual conditions, the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities shall issue appropriate mechanisms and policies to support credit interest rates; support the application of science and technology; support human resource training (for the team of directors, sales staff, accountants in small and medium enterprises, production household owners with business plans approved by competent authorities".
Nghe An more than ever needs a policy with sufficient legal basis to implement the OCOP program support is necessary.
According to the Resolution approved by the Provincial People's Council at the meeting on December 13, 2020 on support policies for implementing the OCOP program in Nghe An province, period 2021-2025: Applicable subjects are agencies, units, small and medium enterprises, cooperatives, cooperative groups, and production households with business registration (collectively referred to as production and business establishments) participating in the implementation of the OCOP program.
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| Shrimp production in Dien Chau. Photo: Tran Canh Yen |
The support principle is that the province will support funding for purchasing machinery and equipment for technological innovation; purchasing packaging and product labels; supporting funding for construction, repair, purchasing equipment for preservation, decoration of OCOP product introduction and sales points with 3 stars or more according to this Resolution is post-investment support: Production and business establishments mobilize capital for implementation, the State budget supports after being appraised by competent authorities to ensure support conditions according to regulations.
Each OCOP product certified with 3 stars or higher, in addition to enjoying the policies prescribed in this Resolution, also enjoys other policies of the State; in case there are many different support policies for the same support content, it will only be supported according to one policy and allowed to choose the most beneficial investment support level...
The policy is really the driving force for Nghe An countryside to produce many quality products, effectively exploiting the potential strengths of Nghe An countryside in the process of international economic integration.
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| Booth displaying 48 OCOP products with 3 stars or higher from Nghe An. Photo: Xuan Hoang |
To help OCOP product producers, such as farmers and cooperatives, expand production, improve productivity and product quality, support policies are necessary. Thereby, it is a lever, encouragement, and demand stimulation for production development to increase the quantity, quality, variety and increase the value of agricultural products, promote economic development, contribute to maintaining and developing traditional products, and create more jobs for workers.
