Nghe An has 403 OCOP star products, ranking 2nd in the country.

Abundant in quantity, rich in genre

After 4 years of implementing the program, despite being implemented in difficult conditions due to low starting point, limited resources, and rampant epidemics, the OCOP Program has now become a widespread movement in the whole province and has had many positive changes, with more and more good models, effective and creative ways of doing things, making breakthroughs, contributing to making the province's agricultural products abundant in quantity, diverse in types; quality, value, and people's income increasingly high, contributing to making the rural appearance increasingly prosperous.

Overview of the meeting. Photo: Quang An

By the end of 2022, the whole province had 403 products ranked as OCOP 3 stars or higher, accounting for 4.6% of the total number of products with star ratings nationwide. Of which: 43 products achieved 4 stars; 359 products achieved 3 stars and 1 product with the potential to achieve 5 stars was submitted to the Central Government for assessment and recognition (among the 3-star products, there were 9 rural tourism spots). Nghe An is the second province in the country in terms of the number of recognized star-rated products.

The proactive connection and search for OCOP product output has received great attention from departments, branches and localities in the province. 71 trade promotion activities have been organized, including 51 Fairs; 17 supply-demand connections; 3 exhibitions to display the initiative "Every farmer is a trader" to optimize the application of digital technology in the production and trade of OCOP products... contributing to the success of the program.

Vinh orange is one of Nghe An's key OCOP products. Photo: Quang An

After 4 years of implementation, the program has aroused the potential and strengths of localities in terms of specialty products, rural industries associated with advantages in production conditions, raw material areas and traditional culture to increase the value of OCOP products. Through the program, a number of links have been formed in a closed value chain, especially associated with the role of cooperatives and small and medium enterprises.

The OCOP program has contributed to creating regular jobs for about 2,300 workers and 1,800 - 2,000 seasonal workers, with an average income of 3.5 - 4 million VND/person/month, contributing to promoting rural economic development; especially promoting the role of women and ethnic minorities, contributing to preserving and promoting the cultural identity and environmental landscape of the locality.

Continue to complete the project

According to the project, in the period of 2023 - 2025, Nghe An strives to have at least 650 OCOP products recognized as 3 stars or higher, of which at least 4 products are 5 stars. Consolidate and upgrade at least 30% of OCOP products that have been evaluated and classified, equivalent to 134 products; prioritize the development of OCOP products associated with product brands.

Mr. Phung Thanh Vinh - Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development presented the project of One Commune One Product Program in Nghe An province for the period 2023 - 2025. Photo: Quang An

Nghe An focuses on developing cooperatives and small and medium-sized enterprises, striving to have at least 30% of OCOP entities being cooperatives, 30% of entities being small and medium-sized enterprises; having at least 5% of traditional craft villages having OCOP products, contributing to the preservation and development of traditional craft villages. At the same time, striving to have at least 20% of trained workers with appropriate degrees and certificates working at OCOP entities; having at least 50% of OCOP entities participating in modern sales channels (supermarket systems, convenience stores, e-commerce trading floors, etc.); striving for each district-level unit to have 01 point of introduction and sale of OCOP products, etc.

Mr. Cao Minh Tu - Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade emphasized the role of organizing fairs and conferences to connect supply and demand and promote OCOP products. Photo: Quang An

At the meeting, representatives of departments, branches and localities gave their opinions to contribute to the project. The representative of the Provincial Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Center said that although Nghe An OCOP products have good quantity, the quality still needs to be improved. In addition, the production scale is still small, there is a lack of space, there are cases where the connection with the consumer unit is possible but the facility does not meet the production capacity and output as required by them.

The representative of the Provincial Cooperative Union said that units and localities need to actively support and promote OCOP products of cooperatives and enterprises, and participate in fairs and conferences connecting supply and demand...

Representatives of the Department of Science and Technology said that it is necessary to add regulations and decrees on food safety, traceability, barcodes... and related documents to the project to ensure strictness in the process of building and producing OCOP products.

Comrade Nguyen Van De - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee highly appreciated the achievements that departments, branches and localities have achieved in implementing the OCOP program. Photo: Quang An

Yen Thanh district leaders said that OCOP products are mostly agricultural and seasonal, while to enter supermarkets and systems, the products must be available on shelves all year round. This is a difficulty and challenge in producing OCOP products in a sustainable manner...

Concluding the meeting, Comrade Nguyen Van De - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee highly appreciated the achievements in implementing the OCOP program in the province. Regarding the One Commune One Product (OCOP) Project of Nghe An province for the period 2023 - 2025, after listening to comments, Comrade Nguyen Van De requested the departments and agencies to draft documents to continue to supplement and complete the project for early promulgation, ensuring the basis for implementation.

Connecting consumption of OCOP products in Nghe An. Photo: Quang An

Regarding the One Commune One Product program in the coming time, comrade Nguyen Van De requested departments, branches and localities to coordinate closely with each other in the implementation process. In particular, upgrading the star rating of OCOP products and improving product quality are more important than increasing the quantity of products. In addition, the Department of Finance and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development need to work together to agree on the budget for implementing the program in the coming years.