Yen Thuy district is actively implementing a comprehensive range of measures to develop its One Commune One Product (OCOP) product offerings. Currently, the district boasts four 4-star and 17 3-star products under the programme. A standout among them is the 4-star ca gai leo (Solanum trilobatum Linn) glue product, which has steadily expanded its presence in both local and regional markets.
Leaders of the Yen Thuy People's Committee visit the nursery of the Bao Hieu Ca Gai Leo Agro-Forestry Cooperative.
According to Bui Quy Hoi, Director of the Bao Hieu Ca Gai Leo Agro-Forestry Cooperative, in early 2015, as part of a poverty reduction programme, ca gai leo, a medicinal plant used in the treatment of various type of diseases, was introduced to Da Phuc commune. Suitable to local soils, the crop thrived, and residents quickly expanded cultivation areas. However, hasty expansion without a specific plan led to unstable outlets and price pressures, with costs sometimes dropping to below 10,000 VND per kg. Therefore, local farmers began uprooting the crop.
"At the end of 2015, I decided to mobilise households in the commune to establish a cooperative specialising in growing the herbal plant. In January 2016, the Bao Hieu Agro-Forestry Cooperative was established,” Hoi said. Pressing issues facing the crop were gradually addressed. From nine members at first, the cooperative has expanded its membership to 100, with the members now involved in a linked cultivation model across more than 40ha in Bao Hieu and Da Phuc communes.
The cooperative researched and produced its glue product, which boasts a longer shelf life. The herb has various uses, such as detoxifying the liver, lowering liver enzymes, relieving alcohol effects, assisting in treating liver inflammation Type B, fatty liver and fatty blood diseases, back pain, fatigue, and sore throat.
At the provincial OCOP product evaluation conference in 2019, the product claimed a 3-star rating. In 2021, it was accredited with meeting the 4-star standard.
Hoi noted that the product has been trademarked and is available in foreign markets like China, Russia, and Thailand, receiving high praise. The annual profit from it hit between 1.5 and 2.5 billion VND (61,589 – 102,648 USD). The average monthly income is 11.5 million VND per member.
In addition to the efforts of its members, the cooperative has received support from the Yen Thuy authorities, helping its product firmly establish a position in the market.
In Lac Thuy district, communes have been succeeded in promoting their One Commune-One Product (OCOP) products while others are still struggling to position their typical farming products in market. Some communes in the district still fail to have their products met OCOP programme’s requirements, while others have seen their certifications expired.
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