After more than four years of implementation, the One Commune, One Product (OCOP) program in Nam Dinh province has exerted a strong effect across the country and become an optimal solution for rural economic development.
A booth to introduce OCOP products of Nam Dinh province
The OCOP Program has generated a strong effect and helped restructure the economy, improve incomes and stabilize livelihoods for rural people. This move has supported production-income-poverty criteria in advanced and exemplary new rural development.
According to the report released by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nam Dinh province had 39 4-star products; 212 3-star products; 4 products to be upgraded from 3-star class to 4-star class. Lenger canned clam and Toan Xuan organic rice are ready for 5-star standards. Among these, food takes the lead with 231 products, while the rest include 13 beverage products, four handicraft products and three countryside tourism products.
Mr. Nguyen Sinh Tien, Deputy Director of Nam Dinh Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said OCOP products certified to be 3 or 4-star class have grown in quality and variety of designs and packaging; met conditions and regulations on stamps, labels and product traceability. Producers and traders have actively participated in the OCOP Program as they see its benefits. As a result, products registered to join the OCOP Program have tended to increase. Economic organizations that have taken part in the OCOP Program have gradually been consolidated and developed. Many business owners and cooperatives are young, qualified and quick to operate with the market mechanism. Thanks to the care and support of all levels, sectors and localities, the OCOP Program has widely spread its effects.
Giao Thuy district has two specialty dishes - Nem Nam (sliced pork skin) and Sa Chau fish sauce, which were recognized as the Top 100 specialty dishes of Vietnam by the Vietnam Record Organization. The local authorities defined the OCOP Program as an important solution to accomplish the goal of building an enhanced and exemplary new rural area and proposed many basic and methodical solutions for implementation.
Mr. Cao Thanh Nam, Standing Vice Chairman of Giao Thuy People's Committee, said, in addition to the annual plan, the committee launched programs to encourage OCOP product development in 2021 - 2025. Accordingly, an OCOP product will be granted VND20 million in reward for reaching 3-star class, VND30 million for a 4-star class and VND50 million for a 5-star class. By 2025, the district will strive to have at least 60 OCOP products or more of 3-star class, more than 10 4-star products and one or two 5-star products. The district will advocate developing products along the closely linked value chain and making inroads into export markets. The locality will encourage developing 1-2 community-based eco-tourism and countryside museum tourism products. Each commune will have at least 2 OCOP products of 3-star class or higher. The district will promote information, communication, guidance and support for localities to devise OCOP product development plans and production development criteria according to the new rural development criteria; step up trade promotion, publicity, introduction and connection for product consumption; develop new points of sale; and organize fairs for OCOP products.
Mr. Tran Anh Dung, Standing Vice Chairman of Nam Dinh Provincial People's Committee, said that the Party and government of Nam Dinh province defined One Commune One Product (OCOP) as one of the important programs to boost rural economic development by utilizing internal resources and increasing value and as a solution and task to execute the National Target Program on New Rural Development. To make marketable OCOP products, since 2019, the province has supported and facilitated OCOP producers to attend various trade fairs, investment promotion conferences and supply-demand matching programs at central and local levels; organized many conferences and seminars; opened training courses on skills at trade fairs and exhibitions and packaging design skills, and launched product roadshows. The province has more than 100 OCOP products available on e-commerce platforms such as Posmart.vn, Voso.vn and social networks. “The province will focus on reality; base on supply and demand, unlock local advantages, potential and culture; and especially meet all criteria and regulations on product quality,” he noted.
Ngoc Dan (Vietnam Business Forum)