OCOP products in Nghe An are 'struggling' to find output
(Baonghean.vn) - After 1 year of implementing the "One Commune One Product" (OCOP) Program, Nghe An currently has 48 products evaluated, classified, and assigned stars. Of these, 15 products achieved 4 stars and 33 products achieved 3 stars at the provincial level.
Difficulty in consumption
As one of two products of Tan Ky district classified as 3-star OCOP at the provincial level, Nghia Hoan chicken egg products of Nguyen Cao Cuong producer still face many difficulties in finding output. To be awarded a star, meeting the criteria according to the set of criteria for evaluating and classifying products of the "One Commune One Product" Program, stipulated in Decision 048/QD-TTg dated August 21, 2019 of the Prime Minister, the breeding process to produce quality chicken eggs is quite elaborate and costly, from selecting breeds, choosing food, drinking water, vaccination... to packaging and labeling.
Mr. Cuong's expectation is that after being awarded the OCOP star, it will open up a new consumption direction for chicken egg products; but currently his chicken eggs are still sold retail through markets, restaurants, and eateries in the district in limited quantities.
 |
| Households in Nghia Hoan commune (Tan Ky) hope that Nghia Hoan chicken eggs will be connected and consumed in stores and supermarkets inside and outside the province. Photo: Thanh Phuc |
It is worth mentioning that although the cost of producing OCOP quality chicken eggs is much more expensive than other mass-farmed chicken eggs, the price of OCOP chicken eggs is still "equal" to the market price and is still difficult to consume. "My wish is that Nghia Hoan chicken eggs are connected and consumed in stores and supermarkets in and outside the province; and are chosen as food by schools, restaurants, and hotels. This requires the support and joint efforts of all levels and sectors," said Mr. Nguyen Cao Cuong.
Certified by the Provincial People's Committee as meeting 4-star standards according to OCOP standards, Thanh Chuong green tea produced by Thanh Duc Agricultural and Tea Processing Cooperative has now completed the criteria for product quality and packaging, and has been properly labeled.
However, at present, the output for Thanh Chuong green tea products is still difficult. Mr. Pham Ba Chau - Director of Thanh Chuong green tea cooperative said: "Although Thanh Chuong green tea products have been recognized as meeting the 4-star OCOP standard at the provincial level, the market and market share are still very limited. The output is mainly managed by the members of the cooperative themselves, through contact, connection, and retail on the free market."
 |
| Tea growers are worried because the purchase price at the beginning of the season is lower than last year. Photo: Xuan Hoang |
Mr. Le Dinh Thanh - Vice Chairman of Thanh Chuong District People's Committee said: "Thanh Chuong has many types of specialty plants and animals, including many products recognized and awarded OCOP stars such as: Green tea, incense, oranges, hill chicken, black canarium... However, connecting with businesses to bring products to supermarkets and retail systems seems to be non-existent."
Need "bridges"
While the output of OCOP products in the province is limited, businesses and supermarkets in the province have to import goods and search for products from other provinces and cities to sell. At BigC Vinh supermarket alone, there are up to 18,000 agricultural and food product codes, of which 96% are Vietnamese products, but the number of agricultural products from Nghe An can be counted on the fingers.
The biggest "bottleneck" currently preventing the province's OCOP products from reaching out and establishing a firm foothold in the large market is the issue of linking to expand the product consumption market, especially bringing them into modern retail channels such as supermarkets and large retail stores inside and outside the province.
Currently, consumers hardly know about OCOP products.
 |
| At supermarkets, OCOP products from the province are absent from shelves. Photo: Thanh Phuc |
The reason is that the participants in OCOP are all small-scale production households, enterprises and cooperatives, so it is difficult to connect with supermarkets and retail chains. Although OCOP products are of good quality and have development potential, the construction and enhancement of brands, packaging and labels are not eye-catching and attractive to consumers... have not received due attention.
Mr. Le Van Luong - Head of the Department of Rural Development emphasized: "To standardize advantageous products according to OCOP criteria, promoting brand building, supporting trade promotion, supporting science and technology to improve productivity, product quality and competitiveness of production facilities is extremely important. Product quality is concerned, products that meet OCOP standards will have orders and sustainable consumption cooperation. From there, promote production, increase income for people in accordance with the goal of developing the rural economy in the direction of endogenous development and increasing the value of the new rural construction program". |
| Participants in OCOP are all small-scale producers, enterprises and cooperatives, so it is difficult to connect with supermarkets and retail chains. Photo: Nam Anh soy sauce products (Nam Dan). Photo: Thanh Phuc |
On the part of the professional agency, the Department of Rural Development has submitted to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for approval of the budget to support products that have achieved the star-level origin traceability stamp combined with the province's OCOP logo, design trademarks, and register trademarks; Develop a policy to support the implementation of the "One Commune One Product" Program in Nghe An province, period 2021 - 2025; complete the set of criteria for evaluating OCOP products in the direction of approaching closely to the requirements of consumers and the requirements of supermarkets for each product; form a supply system for OCOP products in the whole province and link with other provinces to set up OCOP points of sale.
Details of 48 OCOP products of Nghe An achieving 3 stars or more
(Baonghean.vn) - Nghe An province has just announced 48 OCOP products in 2019 that achieved 3 stars or more. This is the result of localities and units after 1 year of implementing the "One Commune One Product" Program according to Decision 490/QD-TTg dated May 7, 2018 of the Prime Minister.