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OCOP aims to develop the economy of the rural area in the direction of promoting internal resources and increasing the value of products, thereon, increasing income for rural people. In Binh Duong, although some difficulties still remain in implementing the OCOP, many opportunities for development are available if they can promote their existing potentials and strengths.

Bach Dang pomelo has been included in OCOP

Development opportunities

OCOP is a program aimed at creating at least one or more key products in each commune. It has comparative advantages towards branding and linking to expand production and product consumption. The effective implementation of this program will be a lever to promote the development of rural economy and, at the same time, contribute to in-depth new countryside construction with sustainable efficiency. Currently, the program is being actively implemented by localities to create a momentum for agriculture, rural areas and farmers.

For a long time, Binh Duong pomelo brand has a reputation, but in general the output of the product depends largely on traders. By the recognition of pomelos as OCOP products, it is expected to open a new direction for pomelo planters. Nguyen Minh Sang, a farmer at Tan My commune, Bac Tan Uyen district, said, through the words of the elders, in the early years of the nineteenth century, the land here was quite fertile, since then, many people flocked to declare land and established careers and brought many varieties of fruit trees to plant. However, only grapefruit trees exist to this day. In recent years, pomelos have been continuously in season with good prices making many families well-off thanks to the pomelo.

Meantime in Bach Dang commune of Tan Uyen town, Bach Dang sweet orange leaf pomelo tree has also been affirmed as a brand on nearly 400 hectares of pomelo grown according to VietGAP. Since then, it brings not only a significant source of income for farmers but also the famous agricultural product that is clean and safe in Binh Duong land. Nguyen Minh Tam, Director of Bach Dang Agricultural Cooperative said: “We are very excited that the local pomelo product is participating in the OCOP and being rated 3 stars.”

Trinh Minh Thanh, Director of Dong Thuan Phat Agricultural Cooperative at Thuong Tan commune of Bac Tan Uyen district said that in the past, most people cultivated spontaneously by taking advantage of plant protection drugs so the selling price was not high. Over the years, people have learned their ways and applied science and technology to care for pomelos in the direction of VietGAP, so the products made are welcomed by traders and the prices are stable. “We expect OCOP to create many favorable conditions for cooperatives and local people in promoting the brand, especially the opportunity to access more outputs and expand the market. In addition to organic production and diversification of processed products; members of the cooperative will work with farmers to keep on with their efforts to take Binh Duong's clean grapefruit further by expanding sustainable consumption channels and towards the planning area specializing in local specialties for pomelo,” said Thanh.

Efforts made to overcome difficulties

Cooperatives, businesses and individuals in the province all identified OCOP as a challenge and a great opportunity to build brand-name to impress domestic markets and further exportation. Nguyen Hong Quyet, Director of Kim Long High-Tech Agricultural Cooperative at An Binh Commune of Phu Giao District, said that participation in the program is very necessary. It is because that if the cooperative's products are recognized as OCOP products, they will have a brand name to participate in the trade promotion system of product production and take a foothold in the domestic market and the region let alone the opportunity to expand the market to foreign countries.

Nguyen Chau Long, Deputy Head of Economic Department of Phu Giao district, said participating in OCOP requires farmers to be more professional in production. In return, on obtaining OCOP star, Binh Duong agricultural products have the opportunity to reach out to the world. However, a number of constraints and obstacles in the implementation of the OCOP are that many products of the subject applying for the product classification contest do not yet have the product eligibility certificate and the analyzing and testing establishments for meeting food safety conditions, no label, simple packaging, not eye-catching to customers while trade promotion is still limited.

Pham Van Bong, Director of Binh Duong provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that in order to overcome the shortcomings and awaken the potential available in the locality, the provincial authority is actively implementing solutions to achieve the planned goals suggested for OCOP products to be recognized with 3 stars or more, the agricultural sector will build a plan to coordinate with the industry and trade department to promote and introduce through a number of forms such as exhibition and product sales; building a specialized website of OCOP to support subjects to introduce and sell products; supporting the implementation of common booths of the province participating in OCOP fairs inside and outside of the province, including support costs to participate in overseas fairs and exhibitions.

Reported by Thoai Phuong – Translated by Vi Bao