Good evaluations of products by specialised officials in relevant areas like health care and environment help the products maintain their foothold in the market.

Such assessments from district to provincial levels have been reviewed regularly for re-granting or advancing certificates, driving the entities to reform their production to provide quality products for the market, shift from small-scale production to production linkages, cooperate and optimise advantages of localities.

Watermelon farming in My Gia and Yen Thanh communes in Yen Binh district has been changed towards professionalism since the product was rated three stars under the OCOP programme.

  

The product now earns its own code, barcode and traceability label, and papers proving its satisfaction of food safety requirements, and has been put up for sale on e-commerce platforms instead of roadside stalls as previously.

A similar case is a tourism product named "Suoi Giang Tea Culture Space” in Suoi Giang commune, Van Chan district, which has won the four-star status.

Dang Thai Son, manager of the Suoi Giang Tea Culture Space, said to win the OCOP recognition, tourism products must undergo assessments in service organisation, product development, community strength, product quality, equipment, architecture and management, among others.

"Therefore, we have poured investments in standardising all services, stepped up tour promotion via social networks, and optimised online room booking apps, which have helped attract more holidaymakers,” he said.

Those who join the OCOP programme have received support in trade promotion, market expansion and product distribution, especially through OCOP shops, e-commerce platforms, social networks and export.

As of the end of 2022, Yen Bai province counted 191 OCOP products, of which 21 were rated four stars. joining the OCOP programme offers a chance for local products to be standardised towards more professionalism.

Hoai Anh