Nghe An is in the top of the country in terms of OCOP products achieving stars.

PV:Could you tell us about the outstanding results of the Nghe An OCOP Program up to this point?
Mr. Le Van Luong:As we know,OCOP programis a rural economic development program towards endogenous development and value addition, contributing to economic restructuring, improving income and living standards for people and effectively implementing the group of criteria "Economy and production organization" in the National Criteria Set for New Rural Communes in the period 2016 - 2020.

Through the development of production in rural areas, it contributes to promoting a reasonable shift in the rural labor structure (limiting migration to cities and industrial zones), taking advantage of human resources, protecting the environment and preserving and developing rural society in a sustainable direction.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and the delegation visited the exhibition booth of Tan Ky district with products registered to build to meet the 3-star OCOP provincial standard in 2020.

It can be said that after more than 1 year of implementation, the OCOP Program in Nghe An has really come into life, enthusiastically responded by the entire political system, especially the people and businesses. Currently, 21/21 districts, cities and towns have approved the implementation plan.

Nghe An aims to have 90 OCOP products rated at 3 stars or higher by the end of 2020, and in 2019, 48 products were rated at 3 stars or higher (including 15 products at 4 stars).

Up to now, Nghe An is one of the leading provinces in the country in terms of the number of products achieving OCOP stars (the whole country has 1,928 products achieving 3 stars or more, each province/city has an average of 30.6 products). In 2020, up to this point, according to the preliminary report, localities have selected about 60 products to complete the dossier to request the province to evaluate and classify. Thus, it can be said that, by the end of 2020, we will likely reach and exceed the target of having 90 products.3 starsOCOP or higher.

Thai women in Thai Minh hamlet 4, Tien Ky commune (Tan Ky) next to a brocade weaving loom. Photo: Xuan Hoang

In addition to many products achieving OCOP stars, according to surveys and evaluations, products that have been recognized as achieving 3 OCOP stars or higher have been promoted and promoted, so they are known to many consumers, and have gradually built and consolidated their reputation and trust with consumers. Typically, the products of Solanum procumbens, Gymnema sylvestre, and Gynostemma pentaphyllum of Duoc Lieu Joint Stock CompanyPu MatSales revenue in the first 8 months of 2020 increased by about 20% compared to the same period in 2019, products such as soy sauce, tea, lotus, ATC lingzhi mushroom, Yen Thanh mushroom, Tan Ky chicken eggs, soy oil...

Many customers are interested in Nghe An OCOP products with 3 stars or more at the display booth. Photo: Xuan Hoang

PV:One of the issues that people and businesses are concerned about is the specific support policy for the OCOP Program in localities. Can you tell us more about this issue?

All 48 products with 3 stars or more are distributed from the lowlands to the mountains. The products are all specialties of Nghe An regions. Photo: Xuan Hoang

In order to carry out the tasks assigned by the Provincial People's Committee, in the past time, the Department of Rural Development has actively advised the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to coordinate with relevant sectors, localities and units to develop a draft outline of the Resolution of the Provincial People's Council on a number of policies to implement the Program "One Commune One Product" in Nghe An province for the period 2021 - 2025; Up to now, the draft has been commented on by sectors, localities, units, and Comrade Hoang Nghia Hieu - Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee. However, the current difficulty is that the Central regulations related to this program will basically expire at the end of 2020 but the new replacement document has not been issued. Therefore, we are continuing to research and complete it and plan to submit it to the Provincial People's Committee for comments in October 2020 and submit it to the Provincial People's Council for approval in December 2020.

Comrade Hoang Nghia Hieu - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Provincial OCOP Program Executive Board, Chairman of the Provincial OCOP Product Classification and Evaluation Council visited OCOP products with 3 stars or more of Nghe An in 2019. Photo: Xuan Hoang

According to the draft, the policy will focus on supporting 6 main contents as follows:

1) Support the purchase of machinery and equipment to innovate technology to serve the production of OCOP products;
2) Support for purchasing packaging and labels for OCOP products;
3) Support for building/upgrading OCOP points of sale;
4) Support website construction for OCOP participants;
5) Credit interest support;

6) Reward products that meet OCOP standards according to regulations.

With the responsibility of being the standing agency advising on the implementation of the OCOP Program, we hope to continue to receive the attention and comments of relevant organizations and individuals so that we can continue to improve the policy and hope that this policy will soon be approved by the Provincial People's Council.

PV:To limit the development of the OCOP Program according to the movement, what recommendations are needed and what are the goals of the program from 2021 - 2025, sir?
Mr. Le Van Luong:Programme "One commune one product" is an important solution to contribute to the successful implementation of new rural construction. However, to limit the situation of following the trend, in my opinion, we need to do well the following contents:
The first:Continue to promote propaganda, mobilization, training and guidance so that cadres and people, especially the subjects participating in the OCOP Program, understand the viewpoints, goals, requirements and tasks of the program, especially: Promoting the internal strength of localities associated with administrative units of villages, communes, districts and towns to promote the creativity and potential internal strength of localities focusing on developing typical products with high added value.

Customers visit the Quy Chau brocade booth in Vinh city at the Patriotic Emulation Conference. Photo: Quang An

Continue to consolidate, improve quality, expand scale and consumption market towards exporting products that have achieved OCOP stars; Have at least 150 OCOP products by 2025;

Develop 2 - 3 villagescommunity ecotourism, combining the preservation of cultural values ​​to create tourism products and services participating in the OCOP Program; Developing at least 5 5-star products (for export);

Community tourism in the Western region of Nghe An. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Ensure that the cycle is operated automatically and voluntarily to become a strong startup movement;

There is a team of professionalized and effective staff and experts; Every year, each district has at least 2 product ideas supported according to the issued Standard Cycle, Vinh city and Cua Lo town have at least 1 product idea supported according to the issued Standard Cycle.
We believe that with the experiences gained from the practical implementation of the program over the past year, with the rich historical and cultural traditions, the hardworking and creative people, the drastic participation of the entire political system from the province to the grassroots, along with the entrepreneurial spirit and passion for getting rich, the OCOP Program will develop more and more sustainably, contributing to making Nghe An countryside more and more prosperous, democratic, fair and civilized.
PV:Thank you!