Ninh Binh develops OCOP products associated with local identity

The OCOP programme has helped raise awareness and changed mindset for state management agencies, businesses, farmers, distributors and customers about the quality and brands of OCOP products.

To date, the progamme has been seen wide spread. Most of localities have developed OCOP products associated with material zones and local cultural identity.

OCOP products have been produced under VietGAP farming practices, organic and ecological farming processes in order to ensure food safety and origin traceability, and build  a value chain in the direction of circular economy.

Ninh Binh now has 209 OCOP products, 69 of which have been rated as four-star products. These products are food, herbal medicine, souvenirs, interior decoration, and rural area tourism services.

Yen Dong commune of Yen Mo district has taken advantage of forest to develop beekeeping. Each year, business households and beekeepers provide nearly 30 tonnes of honey for the market.

Implementing the OCOP programme, honeybee has been chosen by the local administration to build brand and improve quality so as to be classified as a three-star product.

While the mountainous district of Nho Quan has steered sectors and branches to survey and select typical products to build brands.

Therefore, numerous OCOP products have been registered, labelled and consumed widely both in and outside the province with high economic value such as Hoang Tra ginseng, Tien Vuong ginseng, Cuc Phuong honey, and Yellow tea. These products are recognised as three- and four-star products.

Over the years, thanks to orientations and support from local administrations at all levels, sectors and branches, numerous OCOP products have been exported, thus contributing to raise the portion of agricultural products and handicraft products in export turnover.

Dozens of OCOP products have affirmed their brands in the export markets such as Kim Sơn handicraft products, sedge hats, mats, bags, souvenirs and decorations.

While some others own great potential for exporting such as yellow flower tea, Bo Bat ceramics, herbal products, Bodhi-leaf paintings of Sinh Duoc cooperative. These products have also become popular souvenirs.

Over the past few years, Ninh Binh has enhanced trade promotions to advertise local OCOP products by participating trade fairs in and outside the province.

It has organised delegations to survey and study consumption markets for local agro-forestry-aquatic OCOP products.

The province has actively organised trade fairs to connect export firms in a bid to seek and expand export markets for local farm produce.

To prepare for the export of OCOP products in the time to come, the Department of Industry and Trade will continue to stay updated with information about foreign markets and export policies and orientations so as to inform and guide local firms.

In 2025, Ninh Binh strives to have an additional 20-30 OCOP products rated from three stars upward. It will pay special attention to building OCOP products associated with local traditions, history and culture.

These products will not only help preserve the local culture and history but also also create momentum for the province’s sustainable economic development.