In December 2020, Da Nang government granted certificates to 18 Da Nang-developed products for meeting One Commune-One Product (OCOP) standard.

Workers are seen busy at the ‘Ba Lieu Me’ manufacturing establishment in Cam Le District’s Hoa Tho Dong Ward

Of this, seven products were recognised for meeting 4-star standards under the so-called OCOP model, whilst the remainder met 3-star standards.

The OCOP model made its debut in 2008 in Viet Nam, following the model of Japan-initiated ‘One Village, One Product’ and Thailand-developed ‘One Town, One Product’.

It is an economic development programme for rural areas focusing on increasing internal power and values, which is also meant to help with Viet Nam's national target programme on upgrading rural areas.

With over one month left to the Tet Festival 2021, OCOP manufacturers across Da Nang are keeping themselves busy to increase their production capacity in a bid to meet a surge in demand from their customers in Da Nang and other localities across Viet Nam.

The Son Tra District-based Bac Dau Co., Ltd  specialises in fried mackerel products which have a high nutritional value and a low-fat high quality protein, as well as says no to borax or any chemical preservatives.

Mrs Nguyen Thi Hong Thu from the Bac Dau company proudly said that her company's product meets 4-star standards under the under the so-called OCOP model.

The development of this product was part of a Japan International Cooperation Agency-funded project on promoting the establishment of a seafood value chain in Da Nang that has been jointly carried out by governments of Da Nang and Japan's Kushiro City.

Mrs Thu remarked that the Bac Dau company planned to increase its production capacity to between 700 and 1,000 kilos of fried mackerel this month in order to meet the growing demand of its customers over the upcoming Tet Festival.

"In addition to fried mackerel, such best food for Tet as fried squid, dried squid, and fresh seafood will be available for sale by our company in the coming time" said Mrs Thu.

Similarly, the ‘Ba Lieu Me’ manufacturing establishment in Cam Le District’s Hoa Tho Dong Ward has set to produce around 150,000 boxes of 'banh kho me’ (dried sesame seed cakes) in January, double the volume on normal months.

Mr Huynh Duc Sol, the manager of the ‘Ba Lieu Me’ manufacturing establishment, said, his facility will hire dozens of seasonal workers to increase its production capacity in order to satisfy the growing consumer demand for the forthcoming Tet Festival.

"Our establishment saw a 40% decrease in the sales volume last year due to the adverse impact of the globally-complicated coronavirus pandemic. Therefore, we are carrying many sales programmes in order to increase the product consumption this year, especially before Tet" Mr Sol underlined.

Meanwhile, members of the Tuy Loan Organic Vegetable Production And Consumption Cooperative in Hoa Vang District’s Hoa Phong Commune cannot hide their happiness at their edible leafy vegetation products meeting 3-star OCOP standards.

The Cooperative is planning to provide a daily average of up to one tonne of vegetables of all types in January, and between 2 and 2.5 tonnes in these days leading to the Tet Festival, so as to better serve Da Nang people.

Likewise, Director of the Hong Huong Fish Sauce Co., Ltd, Bui Thanh Phu, said his company is very busy preparing for raw materials for producing a total of around 5,000 litres of fish sauce in January in an effort to ensure a secure supply for Tet.

By HOANG HIEP - Translated by M.D