Bac Kan Enhances Linkages to Promote Consumption

In recent years, products under the One Commune One Product (OCOP) Program have increasingly gained consumers' trust. Among the important solutions contributing to the overall success are promoting trade, boosting consumption linkages and expanding markets.

After two years of carrying out the OCOP program, Bac Kan province has 105 products qualified for standards of OCOP program, including 8 four-star products and 37 three-star products. Many local products have high quality and meet clean agricultural standards. In which, 3 products are qualified for VietGap standard; 11 meet standards of HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points); 4 have brand protection; 4 have geographical indications; 7 use collective marks.

According to Ms. Do Thi Minh Hoa, Vice Chairperson of Bac Kan People's Committee, along with continuing to promote the achieved results and well implementing the OCOP program to get more new products, Bac Kan province should focus on key products, and strive to have at least one 5-star product in 2020. According to the implementation plan of the OCOP program in 2020 as promulgated in Decision 107/QD-UBND of the provincial People's Committee, Bac Kan province will strive to develop at least 36 new products to be certified with three stars or more; upgrade at least one 4-star product to five-star product; upgrade at least 5 three-star products to four-star products.

In order to tap local agricultural potential, Bac Kan province has been cooperating with many other provinces and cities, participating in trade promotion programs and introducing its agricultural products at supermarkets, food retail systems. Its typical products include canna vermicelli, seedless persimmons, oranges, tangerines and wax gourds, and other OCOP products. The province has signed a cooperation agreement to sell its products through the system of 17 GO!/BigC supermarkets and Vinmart supermarkets. In addition, hundreds of OCOP products in Bac Kan are promoting their brands and gaining popularity in foreign markets.

"The week of introducing aromatic wax gourds, Japonica rice and other agricultural products of Bac Kan province in 2020" was recently held in Hanoi City. On this occasion, Bac Kan province organized a program with 11 booths of agricultural products, including two booths at Vinmart at Times City, Hai Ba Trung district, 9 booths at Vinmart in Trung Hoa ward, Cau Giay district.

Until now, the whole province has about 80 hectares of aromatic wax gourd mainly grown in Ba Be district. The products meet food safety and hygiene standards. Three hectares of these have received a VietGAP certificate. Ms. Dinh Thi Tuyet Nhung, Director of Nhung Luy Cooperative, Ba Be district, said, “This is our poverty reduction plant. The district currently has about 75 hectares of wax gourd. Local farmers take good care of this plant, considering it their main source of income. On average, each hectare yields about 50-70 tons, equivalent to about VND280 million.”

Meanwhile, Japonica rice was put into trial production by Bac Kan province in 2018, up to now the growing area has more than 550 hectares.

Ms. Do Thi Minh Hoa emphasized that Bac Kan province is intensively promoting agricultural development, creating branded products, ensuring VietGAP standards and organic production, enhancing competitiveness in the market. The province is making efforts to bring local agricultural products to potential markets.

The OCOP program has facilitated local development. Localities in the province produce a lot of high quality goods with the characteristics and advantages of each region, contributing positively to agriculture’s sustainable development. In the period of 2020 - 2025, Bac Kan will focus on restructuring agriculture, developing hi-tech agriculture, safe agriculture, commodity agriculture linked to processing and consumption markets.

By Minh Ngoc, Vietnam Business Forum

THE PROGRAM COOPERATED WITH CENTRAL COORDINATION FOR NEW-STYLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT