Kudzu powder product of Nhuan Trach agricultural services and starch processing cooperative in Dong Se hamlet, Nhuan Trạch commune, Luong Son district was certified as meeting One Commune One Product (OCOP)’s 3-star standard last year. For local residents, kudzu is a crop that helped them improve income, alleviate hunger and reduce poverty. The certification of the product is a prerequisite for local households to continue their production and expand their market.
Kudzu powder of Nhuan Trach agricultural services and starch processing cooperative in Dong Se hamlet, Nhuan Trach commune, Luong Son district has been certified as meeting One Commune One Product (OCOP)’s 3-star standard.
Hoang Trong Thu, director of the cooperative, has been involved in kudzu powder production for over a decade. The cooperative has nine members and a raw material area of nearly 10ha.
As kudzu powder is used directly so all processes from input to packaging follow safety standards, he said.
Due to suitable soil and climate in Nhuan Trach, the plant achieved high productivity. Thus, those involved in kudzu cultivation could improve their lives. However, there were times when the powder's price dropped significantly due to oversupply on the market.
Thu and other cooperative members were determined to build the Nhuan Trach kudzu powder brand with the desire to secure product sales for local farmers. Last year, the cooperative bought over 300 tonnes of fresh kudzu tubes from households in the locality with prices ranging from 17,000 - 18,000 VND (0.66-0.70 USD) per one kg.
Aiming to produce kudzu powder products that meet OCOP’s 4-star standard, the cooperative has devised a specific plan to apply modern equipment into production, thereby minimising costs and labour while improving productivity and quality.
In addition, it has tried to sell products at trade fairs, promoting them on social networks such as Facebook, Zalo and Youtube.
Hoang Van Bay, Vice Chairman of the commune People's Committee, said that kudzu powder is a typical agricultural product of Nhuan Trach.
In the coming time, the local administration will encourage people to continue expanding the material area, upgrading facilities to serve processing and improving product quality, he continued.
The official said that product promotion will be strengthened along with expansion of product marketing in big cities and neighbouring areas, thereby building the Nhuan Trach kudzu powder brand on the market as well as contributing to improve people's income and promoting local socio-economic development.
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With favourable climate and land advantages, the agriculture sector in Hoa Binh has been attracting investment from enterprises, organisations, and cooperatives, gradually asserting the position of some local specialties in the international market.
Currently, Luong Son district counts 905 business establishments operating in industry and handicraft, helping generate jobs and stable incomes for local labourers.
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A working delegation from Hoa Binh province led by Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Bui Van Khanh is attending a programme to popularise Vietnamese products in the US and Canada on April 20-28.
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