Suburban Hanoi accelerates OCOP development in co-ops and villages

Thanh Oai District, on the outskirts of Hanoi, is promoting the OCOP (One Commune One Product) program in both traditional craft villages and cooperatives, with many participating cooperatives achieving three- and four-star OCOP ratings.

Trade promotion initiatives for local OCOP products

Workers packing pork sausages at the Hoang Long Cooperative (Tan Uoc Commune, Thanh Oai District). Photos: Anh Ngoc/The Hanoi Times

A signature product from Thanh Oai that has been included in the OCOP program is the processed pork from the Hoang Long Cooperative in Tan Uoc Commune. Nguyen Trong Long, Director of the cooperative, said OCOP's award of four stars to their processed pork in 2022 has benefited them.

"After joining the OCOP program, our trade promotion activities have intensified. We have participated in numerous trade shows under the auspices of OCOP and showcased our products on various e-commerce platforms, which has since doubled our sales," he said.

Tam Hung Agricultural Cooperative (in Tam Hung Commune) is famous for its two high quality rice varieties, such as Golden Flower Glutinous Sticky Rice and Type 7 Fragrant Rice.

Do Van Kien, Director of the Tam Hung Agricultural Cooperative, said the cooperative has been involved in Hanoi's high-quality commodity rice production program since 2012. 

He added that their VietGAP-compliant organic farming practices are used to grow their rice. As a result, the cooperative is able to supply the market with approximately 7,000 to 7,500 tons of premium rice annually.

According to Kien, the nutrient-rich soil of the lowlands produces plumper, more golden grains that make for better rice and give Tam Hung rice its distinctive flavor. In particular, when cooked, the glutinous rice becomes flawlessly white, silky, and fragrant.

Currently, the cooperative is preparing to apply for OCOP evaluation for additional products, including Japonica rice, Fragrant Type 8 rice, and Fragrant Type 9 rice, with the aim of diversifying its high-quality rice offerings.

Based on traditional local and cooperative products, the district has developed 57 OCOP items, 52 of which have been rated four stars and five of which have been classified as three stars, according to Nguyen Trong Khien, Deputy Chairman of the Thanh Oai District People's Committee. 

"The rating has added value to local rice," he pointed out.

Khien added that to further market OCOP products, Thanh Oai has set up two showrooms in Kim Bai Town and Bich Hoa Commune.

The district has also worked with Hanoi's Department of Industry and Trade to organize trade promotion programs for OCOP products, including trade fairs and supplier-customer meetings.

These trade promotion efforts involve businesses, cooperatives, OCOP stakeholders, and district and city leaders. At these events, businesses and cooperatives showcase nearly 1,000 product categories from across the country.

To further boost the marketing of OCOP products, especially those from cooperatives and traditional handicraft villages, the Deputy Chairman of the Thanh Oai People's Committee emphasized that the district is considering setting up more showrooms and developing tourist routes in these craft villages.

"We are also assessing priority sectors for development, focusing on brand building and investing in production scale, trade promotion and branding, especially for cooperative goods that integrate high technology into production," Khien emphasized.

The district has also offered to support each star-rated product with VND2 million (US$79) to help its owners develop the brand, he said.

Developing eco-agricultural models

The hi-tech orchid farming model in My Hung Commune, Thanh Oai District.

To increase the economic value of agriculture while maintaining environmentally sound production standards, Thanh Oai District is creating networked supply chains and high-tech agricultural models in addition to increasing the value of OCOP commodities.

Ngo Minh Truong, a farmer in My Hung Commune, has seen significant economic benefits from applying high technology to his orchid farming. He expects his orchid garden to generate nearly VND4 billion (US$157,777) in revenue this year. 

He added that the garden, which covers an area of 1,500 square meters, cultivates more than 45,000 orchids of various species. The orchids are grown in a controlled greenhouse equipped with systems to monitor humidity, temperature and light, with a total investment of VND6 billion ($236,666).

"This model promotes clean, environmentally friendly production that is suitable for peri-urban agriculture amid rapid urbanization," Truong said.

Nguyen Doan Thang, Deputy Head of the district’s Economic Division, reported that the district currently has 12 high-tech agricultural models. These include a 225-square-meter hydroponic vegetable farm in Kim Bai Town, a 3.4-hectare hi-tech vegetable farm in Dan Hoa Commune, and a VietGAP-compliant egg-laying chicken farm in Hong Duong Commune with a capacity of 30,000 chickens, as well as another farm with 30,000 chickens and 10,000 meat chickens in Lien Chau Commune.

He added that Thanh Oai has established concentrated production zones, including 6,453 hectares for rice, 300 hectares for fruit trees, over 100 hectares for safe vegetables, and 300 hectares for aquaculture, all developed according to VietGAP and organic standards.

To better support cooperatives and stakeholders involved in OCOP product development with funds, scientific techniques, and land, the district is actively reviewing programs to build new-style rural areas, restructure crop and livestock production, and develop production models using high technology, according to the Deputy Chairman of the Thanh Oai District People's Committee.

Furthermore, the district is working on a dedicated e-commerce platform for OCOP products, using digital technology to increase sales and promote these offerings, the deputy chairman said.