Effectiveness from OCOP product development in Dien Chau

As of 2022, Dien Chau district has 12 products meeting OCOP standards, of which 2 products have achieved 4 stars and 10 products have achieved 3 stars. The effective promotion of OCOP products has created positive signals in Dien Chau district.

Peanut production for export in Dien Chau district. Photo: Mai Giang

The confectionery industry in Dien Van commune has existed for more than half a century, concentrated in Dong Ha and Xuan Bac hamlets, with over 100 households regularly engaged in the craft. In 2009, both hamlets were recognized by the Provincial People's Committee as Confectionery Craft Villages. On average, each year, households here earn over 15 billion VND in revenue. Today, the village is still developing quite well.

Luc Thanh confectionery production facility is one of the oldest confectionery establishments in the craft village, annually producing hundreds of thousands of cu do candies to supply markets in many provinces.

Mr. Nguyen The Luc - the owner of the establishment said: With the desire to make delicious cakes, ensuring quality, carrying the flavor of the homeland, we carefully select ingredients, the production process ensures food hygiene and safety. In 2020, Luc Thanh cu do candy participated in the OCOP product program and was recognized as achieving 3 stars. Thanks to that, our products are known and trusted by many customers, so consumption becomes more convenient. The establishment creates jobs for 10 - 15 workers, with annual revenue reaching over 5 billion VND.

After being recognized for its lotus peanut product reaching 4-star OCOP, Sy Thang Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery Company Limited, Hamlet 1, Dien Thinh Commune, has developed more products and in 2021, added a peanut oil product reaching 3-star OCOP. The oil is mainly pressed from lotus peanuts, so it has a delicious flavor. Currently, the company's market is not only domestic supermarkets, but also exported to other countries.

Mr. Pham Ngoc Thang - Director of the enterprise said that thanks to the OCOP certified product, the OCOP Program of the province promoting trade and enhancing product promotion, many customers know about it. For the past 2 years, the enterprise has exported peanuts through official channels, with stable prices, with over 3,000 tons/year, pressing more than 300,000 liters of oil. The general assessment shows that the company's revenue increased by about 20%, in which, there is a significant contribution from the OCOP Program being implemented.

Dien Trung Commune is a key chicken farming area of ​​Dien Chau District, with 152 farms and households, with a scale of 200,000 broiler chickens. Each year, the whole commune sells about 25 million chicken eggs. To facilitate product consumption, Dien Trung Livestock Cooperative has made efforts to build a safe production chain following VietGAP from providing food, veterinary medicine to calling on businesses and supermarkets to purchase products for farmers.

Currently, Dien Trung chicken eggs have a QR barcode brand identity, logo and label to help consumers easily identify the product origin and be recognized as a 3-star OCOP product.

Mr. Le Van Giang - owner of Dien Trung commune livestock farm said: Participating in the cooperative model from the time of establishment until the product was recognized as OCOP, the product's position in the market is more stable, easier to sell than before. The cooperative is trained on selecting breeds, choosing food, choosing chicken sources to ensure safer farming.

Mr. Dau Ngoc Hoa - Director of Dien Trung Livestock Cooperative shared: We determined that we must meet OCOP standards to go far, so we are determined to build a brand. Our chicken eggs are currently not only ordered by hotels, schools, and provinces, but also consumed in Laos. Since having the OCOP Certificate, the output of egg products of the cooperative members has not been stagnant.

Coriander meets OCOP standards in Dien Thai commune (Dien Chau). Photo: Mai Giang

Since 2019, Dien Thai commune's coriander has been recognized by the Provincial People's Committee as a 3-star OCOP product. Ensuring safe vegetable standards and being widely promoted, Dien Thai is the first locality in Nghe An to export more than 2 tons of coriander to the Korean market, along with that, consumption becomes easier at food factories as well as at wholesale markets, supermarkets... From there, helping farmers earn nearly 300 million VND/ha/year from coriander. Mr. Phan Van Hao - an agent specializing in purchasing coriander said: After Dien Thai commune's coriander products met OCOP standards, the market for consuming the products has been increasingly expanded, and prices have also increased by 15 - 20% compared to before.

Initially, it can be affirmed that the OCOP Program is a solution contributing to the restructuring of the agricultural sector and the successful implementation of the National Target Program on New Rural Development in Dien Chau district. Currently, there are 12 products that meet OCOP standards, of which 2 products have 4 stars and 10 products have 3 stars. Dien Chau district strives to have at least 20 OCOP products recognized as 3 stars or higher in the 2021 - 2025 period, with 20% or more of the OCOP subjects being cooperatives and 30% of the subjects being enterprises.

Mr. Le The Hieu - Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Dien Chau district said: In order to create products that meet OCOP standards, Dien Chau district has issued a synchronous implementation plan to communes and towns. The district has organized training and knowledge training for managers, operators, units, cooperatives, and production households. The district People's Committee is integrating mechanisms and policies, especially career resources in building new rural areas to support people, first of all in terms of food safety and hygiene, supporting the assessment system, production lines associated with food safety. We will establish OCOP product introduction points associated with Dien Chau tours.

Mai Giang