OCOP product explosion
By the end of November 2024, the whole country had 14,000 OCOP products with 3 stars or more, far exceeding the number of communes, wards and towns nationwide of 10,598. This shows that many communes have more than 1 product. For example, Bac Lieu province has 64 communes, wards and towns but has 154 OCOP products of 74 recognized entities; of which 32 products have 4 stars and 122 products have 3 stars.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Red River Delta leads the country with the number of OCOP products accounting for 30.7% of the total number of OCOP products in the country, the Mekong River Delta ranks second with 18.3%, followed by the Northern mountainous region accounting for 16.8%, the lowest is the Southeast region with products accounting for 5.8%.
Many products overlap, even in the same commune, OCOP products overlap. Typically, Bac Lieu province has many products, but in fact they are all agricultural products processed from shrimp, rice, salt and woven items.
Chairman of Bac Lieu Provincial People's Committee Pham Van Thieu has repeatedly suggested that there should be a connection, building a strong enough brand, and enough products to supply the market when customers request. He believes that many OCOP products are good, but besides quantity, quality is also needed and it is necessary to choose which products are the province's key products for development.
OCOP Tet gift baskets are still lacking
Currently, OCOP product manufacturers in Bac Lieu are preparing gift baskets to sell during Tet. Production facilities from all over the province have taken creative steps in designing and packaging OCOP products into eye-catching and diverse Tet gift “combos”.
Thanh Thuy PP (Dien Hai Commune, Dong Hai District) is a typical example. With 12 specialty products, including 5 OCOP products, this facility has received double the orders compared to previous years. From shrimp crackers to dried fish, dried shrimp... these products not only have delicious flavors but are also ideal choices for Tet gift baskets with many different prices. OCOP gift baskets cost from 0.5 - 3 million VND and are packaged according to the wishes of customers in and outside the province.
Ms. Cao Ngoc Hang - Director of Bac Lieu Clean Agricultural Products Cooperative No. 1 - said: "This year, the Cooperative has prepared 3 times more OCOP products than last year. The Cooperative has just sold 500kg of dried shrimp and 500kg of Chinese sausage to customers outside the province. Because the reserve goods are frozen goods, we wrap gifts as customers order. The Cooperative wraps as many as customers order. Currently, we have wrapped about 200 - 300 baskets of OCOP products and products of the Cooperative."
Ms. Ta Tuyet Thu - owner of Viet Agricultural Products Establishment (Phong Thanh Tay A Commune, Phuoc Long District, Bac Lieu Province) - shared: "The establishment's OCOP products such as shrimp crackers, dried shrimp, dried foods, and vegetable crackers all sell very well during Tet. I have been preparing for production for more than a month before Tet to meet the high demand of the market."
With stable prices, attractive packaging and guaranteed product quality, OCOP Tet gift baskets are a customer choice. However, agencies and units in Bac Lieu do not seem to be very interested in OCOP baskets. Most gift baskets for policy families, retired officials, the poor, etc. still choose baskets that are not local OCOP products.
According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Bac Lieu province, in the coming time, it will work with the Department of Industry and Trade to organize trade promotion, find outlets for OCOP products, and allocate reasonable funds to support brand promotion to domestic and foreign customers.
