Nghe An ranks 2nd in the country in developing OCOP products.

Processing of lotus products (left photo); Nam Dan lotus products meet OCOP standards from 3 to 4 stars.

PV: Could you tell us about the current development situation of OCOP products in Nghe An?

Mr. Nguyen Ho Lam:After 4 years of implementing the "One Commune One Product" Program (OCOP), with the attention, leadership and direction of the central ministries and branches; with the high political determination of the Party Committee and government, the drastic participation of the entire political system from the province to the grassroots, the consensus and response of businesses and people, up to now, the "One Commune One Product" Program, abbreviated as OCOP, has really come into life, creating a great spreading power.

Currently, Nghe An has about 405 products that meet OCOP standards of 3 stars or higher, of which 1 product has the potential to reach the National level of 5 stars and 6 products have been upgraded, ranking 2nd in the country (after Hanoi) and voted 1 of the 10 outstanding results in 2021 of the province, far exceeding the target of the project "One commune, one product of Nghe An province in the period of 2019 - 2020, oriented to 2030" (the project sets that by 2030, the whole province will have 200 products reaching 3 stars or higher); contributing to the successful implementation of the goals of building new rural areas. The program has mobilized 137,958 billion VND to support the construction of products that meet standards...

Mr. Nguyen Ho Lam - Deputy Head of the Provincial Rural Development Department visited Quy Chau brocade craft village. Photo: Tran Chau

PV: Could you tell us about the role of OCOP development in the current new rural construction in Nghe An?

Mr. Nguyen Ho Lam:As we know, the goal of the New Rural Development program is: Continuously improve the material and spiritual life of the people. To achieve that goal, there is no other way but to develop production and increase income.

The “One Commune One Product” program is essentially a rural economic development program in the direction of endogenous development and value addition, contributing to the economic restructuring, improving income and living standards for people and effectively implementing the criteria group “Economy and production organization” in the National Criteria for New Rural Communes. The program also contributes to promoting a reasonable shift in the rural labor structure (limiting migration to cities and industrial zones), utilizing human resources, protecting the environment and preserving and developing rural society in a sustainable direction. Therefore, the development of OCOP products is an objective necessity, this is a common task of the entire political system from the province to the grassroots.

Clean banana products achieve 3-star OCOP in Tan Ky, Nghe An. Photo: Tran Chau

In addition, together with the New Rural Development Program, OCOP in Nghe An has contributed to promoting the restructuring of the agricultural sector, developing production towards concentrated goods, building brands, increasing product value, improving the production and business level of the subjects. At the same time, promoting the potential and available advantages from local traditional cultural products; creating quality products for tourism and services and contributing significantly to the economic growth of the province, bringing high income to rural communities, actively participating in hunger eradication and poverty reduction.

The program has a strong impact on the brand, quality of agricultural goods and services, creating positive changes in agricultural production, contributing to increasing sustainable income for people and the OCOP brand gradually becoming a strong brand in the domestic, regional and international markets. The program also contributes significantly to the successful implementation of new rural goals.

Up to now, the whole province has had 309/411 communes meeting new rural standards, reaching 75.18%; 22 communes meeting advanced new rural standards; 205 villages and hamlets meeting standards; 4 communes meeting advanced model new rural standards and 7 district-level units completing the task of building new rural areas.

PV: How have cooperatives currently promoted their role in producing and trading OCOP products, sir?

Mr. Nguyen Ho Lam:Our Party always affirms that "Cooperative economy always plays a very important role in economic restructuring, production development, job creation, income increase for people, new rural construction, ensuring social security, maintaining political stability, social order and safety". Cooperatives are social economic organizations, because in addition to production and business together, generating income, cooperatives also create conditions for all their members to work together, contribute voluntarily and benefit from their labor.

Workers process salt-cured chicken products in Nam Dan. Photo: Tran Chau

In recent years, the collective economic sector and cooperatives in the province have achieved remarkable results, increasing in both quantity and quality. By November 2022, there were 652 agricultural cooperatives in the province, of which 420 were operating effectively, accounting for 64.41% of the total number of cooperatives in the province and an increase of 70 cooperatives compared to 2021. With a total of 153,220 members, annual revenue of about 625 billion VND, profit of about 76 billion VND/year; the total number of cooperative managers is 2,975 people, of which university and college graduates account for 36.90%; Cooperatives have created stable jobs for about 3,850 regular workers with an average income of 42 million VND/worker/year.

The whole province has 205 OCOP entities, of which 78 are cooperatives (accounting for 39%), which have supported, connected, and midwifed many OCOP products. Many cooperatives play a major role such as: Thien Nhan Lemon Cooperative, Tan Ky Clean Banana Cooperative, Thai Hoa Tien Brocade Craft Village Cooperative, Mon Son Handicraft Cooperative (Con Cuong), Uncle Ho's Homeland Agricultural Lotus Cooperative, etc.

Lotus products of Uncle Ho's Lotus Cooperative. Photo courtesy

PV: In the coming time, in Nghe An, what additional conditions do OCOP product producers and traders need to meet so that their products can gain a foothold in the market?

Mr. Nguyen Ho Lam: Nghe An is a large province and has a lot of potential to develop OCOP products. Many OCOP products currently have a good position in the market. In order for the province's OCOP products to continue to affirm their brand and have a large spread, the subjects need to implement well the following 4 main contents:

First of all, the subject needs to correctly perceive "local production towards global" in the current conditions, production development must be based on the law of "supply - demand" of the market that determines production.

Second, continue to improve products to increase added value, reduce product costs, and gradually improve the competitiveness of our products.

Third, promote linkages along the value chain, including in production, processing and product consumption.

Fourth, promote trade promotion, digital transformation, brand building; improve packaging and labels; invest in developing product production according to the chain model, thereby bringing OCOP products into distribution systems.

During the implementation of the program, we realized that wherever there is strong leadership and direction from the head; the participation of the entire political system, the determination of businesses, cooperatives, and households, there will be success, that product will be assigned a star and enter the market, developing sustainably.

PV: Thank you!

Pu Mat Solanum procumbens product achieved 4-star OCOP of Nghe An. Photo courtesy

Chau Lan