Prospects for the development of OCOP products

During the 2021-2025 period, the "One Commune One Product" (OCOP) program has gained widespread resonance, unlocking the potential of localities across the province. The program has attracted the active participation of enterprises, cooperatives, and households. As a result, OCOP products have experienced rapid growth in both quantity and quality.

Nguyen Thi Hoang, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Committee, visits an OCOP product booth at the 1st Party Congress of Dak O Commune, 2025–2030 tenure. Photo: B. Nguyen

Notably, the province now has 11 nationally certified 5-star OCOP products, affirming that the program has gone into depth, contributing to building the agricultural brand for the province.

Among the top provinces in the Southeast region

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, before implementing the two-tier local government model, the department had issued documents urging and guiding localities and producers to conduct evaluations and recognition of 3-star OCOP products, and to submit proposals to the Department of Agriculture and Environment for the assessment of 4-star OCOP product dossiers. In the first half of 2025, localities across the province assessed and recognized an additional 60 OCOP products and re-recognized 20 products whose validity had expired. The department also convened a consultancy council to evaluate seven 4-star products. At present, producers are finalizing dossiers for certification. From now until the end of 2025, the province is expected to conduct two further evaluation rounds, with around 20 products projected to be certified.

Thanks to these efforts, Dong Nai now has 481 OCOP products, with 304 producers involved, nearly 60% of whom are enterprises and cooperatives. Compared to early 2020, the number of OCOP products has increased sharply, averaging around a 50% annual growth rate.

Based on the star rating system, the province has 361 three-star products, 109 four-star products, and particularly 11 five-star products recognized at the national level. The fact that a large number of the province's products have achieved national 5-star OCOP standards further affirms that the program has truly gone into depth. Notably, all of the recognized 5-star OCOP products are the province's key agricultural items. Specifically, seven are processed from cashew, two from cocoa, and two from medicinal herbs.

Great potential for expansion

Following the merger into the new Dong Nai province, opportunities for developing agriculture in general, and the OCOP program in particular, are abundant. The province has over 1 million hectares of farmland, accounting for nearly 79% of its natural area, with diverse ecosystems, favorable natural conditions, fertile soil, abundant water resources, extensive irrigation systems, and minimal natural disasters. These conditions provide a vital foundation for modern, sustainable, and commercial-oriented agriculture. This is strong potential for the province to develop OCOP products in culture, tourism, and signature local specialties.

Dong Nai is also regarded as the livestock hub of the country, with nearly 4.2 million pigs and 35.9 million poultry. The livestock sector has accelerated the adoption of high technology, with many of the most advanced and modern models available today, shifting from small-scale farming to industrial production with large commercial output. In recent years, several OCOP livestock products have gained market recognition and value-added, including OCOP pork, OCOP herbal chicken, and OCOP processed quail eggs, which come in pasteurized and sterilized varieties for export to multiple countries.

Looking ahead, the department will continue its training and communication activities to equip provincial and communal officers with the knowledge and professional skills necessary to support and guide producers in the province in completing dossiers for registration to participate in the evaluation of OCOP products. The department will also issue further directives to localities to assist producers in applying for certification of OCOP products during 2025.

NGUYEN VAN THANG, Deputy Director of the province's Department of Agriculture and Environment

Dong Nai is also a center for fruit and industrial crops in the Southeast, with leading areas and yields nationwide: cashew (174,000 hectares), rubber (280,000 hectares), coffee (over 20,000 hectares), durian (20,000 hectares), banana (21,000 hectares), mango (nearly 12,000 hectares), and rambutan (9,500 hectares). Many OCOP products have been processed from these resources, including jackfruit, pineapple, taro, banana-based products, as well as instant and traditional coffee.

Deputy Director Nguyen Van Thang stated that, after nearly seven years (2019–2025), the OCOP program has been strongly and substantively implemented, becoming a notable highlight of rural economic development. The province has placed strong emphasis on trade promotion and product marketing activities, helping to affirm brands and expand consumer markets. Agro-tourism, community tourism, and craft villages have also flourished, harmoniously integrating culture, landscapes, and OCOP products. Smart production models, digitalized processes, traceability, and e-commerce have been implemented. The province has even established an online agricultural trading platform, enhancing production efficiency. Dong Nai has also focused on supportive policies and mechanisms, mobilizing resources to invest in infrastructure and applying high technology towards a modern, sustainable, and eco-friendly agricultural sector.

By Binh Nguyen - Translated by Thuc Oanh, Thu Ha