(HBO) – The mountainous district of Da Bac is now in the harvest time of the spring rice crop. Since this crop, farmers in the communes of Muong Chieng, Dong Chum, Doan Ket and Tan Pheo have gained more momentum as J02, the local rice speciality, was given the collective trademark certificate.
Farmers in Nhap hamlet of Dong Chum commune (Da Bac district) harvest
the J02 spring rice crop, which generates 6 tonnes of paddy per ha.
The variety has been grown on a trial basis in
Da Bac since 2015. Muong Chieng commune was the first locality to cultivate
this Japanese-origin variety, which was imported and selected by the
Agricultural Genetics Institute.
Right in the first crop, this variety showed
outstanding strengths. In particular, though it is grown in various areas
nationwide like Phu Tho, Hai Duong and Hai Phong, the J02 rice in Da Bac tastes
much better than the one farmed in other localities, which is attributable to
the local mountainous terrain that creates high day-night temperature
difference – an ideal condition for the J02 variety that prefers cold weather.
J02 is currently cultivated on a large scale in
the communes of Dong Chum (15ha), Muong Chieng (40ha), Tan Pheo (10ha), Giap Dat
(10ha), and Doan Ket (25ha), with the annual farming area of over 250ha and an
output of 6 tonnes per ha each crop.
In 2020, the Da Bac Farmers’ Union has provided
the right to use the collective trademark for 11 farming households and
production and business establishments in the district.
Consumers now can recognise the J02 rice of Da
Bac via its specific package and logo. Local authorities are also stepping up
advertising and expanding the distribution network for the speciality,
including groceries, rice stores, traditional markets, and minimarts in densely
populated areas in Hoa Binh province and Hanoi.
A recent survey showed that consumers have
certain preference for the J02 rice of Da Bac. Up to 52.5 percent of the
respondents in Hoa Binh city said they use this kind of rice. In Hanoi, this
was also the opinion of 68 percent of the consumers interviewed in Hoang Mai
district, 56 percent in Ha Dong district, 66 percent in Dong Da district, and
82 percent in Hai Ba Trung district./.
Dao Village’s honey – a product certified with a 3-star OCOP (One Commune One Product) rating by Thong Nhat Agricultural Cooperative in Dao Village (Hoa Binh City) – is highly regarded by consumers for its quality, richness, and variety in packaging. The distinctively sweet taste of Dao Village’s honey leaves a lasting impression on anyone who has tried it.
In alignment with Project No. 07-DA/TU, issued by the Hoa Binh provincial Party Committee on November 1, 2021, Lac Thuy district has actively promoted investment and supported the sustainable development of its industrial and handicraft sectors during the 2021–2025 period. Alongside this, the district has remained committed to preserving and revitalising traditional craft villages.
Located in the northern part of Lac Thuy district, with a temperate climate and fertile soil, Phu Thanh commune has great potential and advantages in growing tea. The long-standing experience, combined with strict adherence to organic farming practices in the tea gardens, ensures that the dried tea products from Phu Thanh and Lac Thuy as a whole are sold out immediately upon production, providing a stable and prosperous life for the local people.
Amid efforts to streamline the administrative apparatus, Hoa Binh province has intensified measures to address challenges in land clearance, resettlement support, and infrastructure investment, aiming to speed up the progress of key projects.
Hoa Binh province has posted an unprecedented economic growth rate of 12.76% in the first quarter of 2025, marking its highest quarterly performance to date and positioning it as the second fastest-growing locality in the country, trailing only Bac Giang province.
Under current regulations, products in the One Commune – One Product (OCOP) programme that are rated three stars or higher must undergo re-evaluation every three months. However, in reality, some of these products fail to consistently meet the required standards, raising concerns about the sustainability of their OCOP certification. This underscores the urgent need for producers to enhance product quality and gradually develop their OCOP products into strong, marketable brands.
