Hoa Binh province currently has 158 products granted at least three stars under the "One Commune, One Product” (OCOP) programme, including 114 food products. Among them, there are five aquatic products given four stars. They have gradually won consumers’ trust and created a new livelihood development trend for farmers and businesses in rural areas across the province.
The Hai Dang Fishery Products Co. Ltd. frequently
takes part in fairs in Hoa Binh province and other localities to market its
products made from the Da River’s fish.
Over the past years, aside from issuing support
policies for the sustainable development of cage fish farming and successfully
building the brands of "Ca Song Da - Hoa Binh” (Fish from the Da River - Hoa
Binh) and "Tom Song Da - Hoa Binh” (Shrimp from the Da River - Hoa Binh), the
province has stepped up the development of OCOP aquatic products, thus
practically benefiting product marketing and sale.
Fish farming has long been practiced in Tien
Phong commune of Da Bac district as five of this commune’s hamlets are adjacent
to the Hoa Binh hydropower reservoir. However, due to sale difficulties and
lack of access to scientific and technical advances, the activity was not a
main source of livelihood for local residents.
In early 2023, the Da Giang Eco Cooperative was
set up to boost production and sale connectivity among fish farming households
in Tien Phong, helping ensure stable income for many. The same year, the black
carp, black bagridae, and "ca ngach” (Cranoglanis bouderius) products from the
Da River were recognised as three-star OCOP products, giving further
encouragement to the development of cage fish farming here.
Director of the cooperative Xa Ngoc Hung said
the OCOP recognition has provided a more favourable condition for the
cooperative to market products. As a result, the value of products has been
increased, farmers’ income improved, and a sustainable development direction
created for local aquatic products.
There are currently 10 aquatic product
processing and preserving establishments in the province, comprising three
companies, one cooperative, and six business households. Meanwhile, Hoa Binh
now has five aquatic products (fish fillet and fish floss) granted four stars
under the OCOP programme.
Agricultural authorities said OCOP products are
assessed and classified according to the national criteria, which cover many
aspects such as quality, community value, cultural value, and production and
trading capacity of their owners.
Therefore, the sector is piloting some cage fish
farming models applying the VietGAP standards, developing more OCOP products to
improve quality and value, boosting connectivity among stakeholders under value
chains, and promoting concentrated and large-scaled production, said Luong
Thanh Hai, head of the sub-department of fisheries.
As of October 2024, there were 4,987 fish cages
across the province, expected to generate an output of 10,000 tonnes worth 600
billion VND (23.7 million USD) this year. Fourteen aquaculture establishments
with 1,067 cages have received VietGAP certificates, producing about 2.1 tonnes
of products each year.
Meanwhile, the annual amount of processed
aquatic products stands at about 850 tonnes, equivalent to just 11.33% of the
total farmed and caught output in Hoa Binh Lake, according to the
sub-department of fisheries.
The Cao Phong orange has emerged as a shining example of sustainable agricultural development in Hoa Binh province, distinguished as the first and only locally produced agricultural product to receive a geographical indication certification. Renowned for its thin skin, juicy flesh, and delicate sweet flavour, the fruit has won the heart of consumers for years. Local farmers have made their efforts to cultivate environmentally friendly and consumer-safe products, creating a stable and sustainable brand identity.
In recent years, ethnic minority households in the province have embraced forestry and livestock farming as key drivers of income generation. By harnessing the economic potential of forests, these communities have not only improved their livelihoods but also contributed to sustainable development.
Da Bac district is striving to complete land clearance for the Hoa Binh - Moc Chau expressway project in the first quarter of next year. As of the end of November, the district handed over land for just 3 km of the road, from km 24+500 to km 27+500 in Cao Son commune.
Participating in the "Week introducing the products of Hoa Binh Province in 2024” recently held in Hanoi, the product introducing booth of Mo Duc Organic Agricultural Cooperative (Nhan Nghia Commune, Lac Son District) attracted consumers' attention. In addition to the district's outstanding OCOP products, the Cooperative proudly introduced the fresh products made from snails such as snail sausage stuffed with snail shells, and snail sausage stuffed with bamboo tubes... Many diners were particularly impressed with these products, so they not only shopped right at the booth but also contacted to order in large quantities.
Black chicken farming model has changed the lives of vulnerable families in Mong Hoa commune of Hoa Binh city.
Commercial eel products of the Thanh Cong Agro-forestry and General Trading Co. Ltd., based in Doan Ket Commune, Yen Thuy District, were certified as a 3-star One Commune One Product (OCOP) item last year. This recognition has secured the company’s position in the market and marked a new economic development direction for the locality.