OCOP development does not stop at the local scale
The OCOP program (one product for each commune) is increasingly becoming a pillar in Vietnam's rural economic development strategy. By the end of 2024, the country had 14,642 OCOP products with 3 stars or more, belonging to 8,086 participating entities.
The One Commune One Product (OCOP) program has entered a new phase, cannot stop at the local scale, but needs to develop into a national brand that is protected and promoted by appropriate policies.
According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Thanh Nam, OCOP has created great influence, contributing to promoting the shift in rural economic structure, preserving cultural identity and promoting indigenous knowledge. However, many products are still facing difficulties due to lack of stable raw material areas, difficulty accessing credit, limited technology and not meeting international standards.
Some foreign supermarket systems highly value OCOP products but are still concerned about their supply capacity. Therefore, the program will shift from quantity to quality, increasing specificity, cultural value and competitiveness. According to the orientation, OCOP will be developed into a national brand, with an intellectual property protection system and policies to support market promotion and expansion. Products must meet clear standards, have geographical indications, apply digital technology and e-commerce" - said the Deputy Minister.
Application of technology and e-commerce
Developing large-scale OCOP, linking communes, districts and provinces with digital maps and e-commerce after the merger is an inevitable trend after the merger as well as in the context of Vietnam's strong transformation in the digital era.
According to Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thuong Lang - an economic expert - previously, the OCOP program was mainly implemented at the commune level with typical products imbued with the cultural identity of each region. However, to improve the effectiveness and promote the full potential of the program, localities have gradually shifted to developing larger-scale OCOP products, linking many communes and wards, even expanding to provincial and inter-provincial levels.
To promote the development of large-scale OCOP, applying technology to product management and development is an indispensable factor. One of the important tools in this process is the digital map. Digital maps help connect localities, creating a large OCOP product ecosystem, thereby enhancing the ability to promote products to national and international markets. Information about products, product values, production addresses, processing facilities, points of sale, etc. can be continuously updated on the digital map. This helps businesses, consumers and distributors easily find and access OCOP products in different regions - Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thuong Lang assessed.
According to this expert, besides the digital map, an important factor helping to develop large-scale OCOP is e-commerce. In the era of 4.0 technology, e-commerce has become a powerful tool to help OCOP products reach a wider market. Combining OCOP with e-commerce helps improve the access of rural products for consumers not only domestically but also in international markets.
Taking advantage of e-commerce platforms not only helps promote products but also creates direct distribution channels, helping farmers and production organizations sell goods more easily, saving intermediary costs - Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thuong Lang emphasized.
