(HBO) – Anyone who has visited Muong Hich commune in Mai Chau
district cannot help but mention Muong Hich blue-necked duck - a typical
agricultural product of the locality that is highly appreciated for its quality
and safe production, along with beautiful community-based tourism villages.
Muong Hich blue-necked duck product is certified by the provincial People's Committee as a three-star OCOP product.
The Muong Hich blue-necked duck has become a familiar poultry to people in Mai Hich commune. The outstanding advantage of this duck breed is its beautiful feather. Harvest ducks will have blue colour on their head and neck. Muong Hich blue-necked duck meat has delicious quality so it is favoured in the market.
With the goal of preserving and improving the prestige, quality and reputation of Muong Hich blue-necked duck products, duck breeders in the locality agreed to establish Muong Hich agricultural service cooperative last year.
To improve quality and prevent diseases for ducks, along with building hygienic barns, breeding households make use of banana trunks and other vegetables available in the locality as food for the poultry. The cooperative also purchases an incubator to provide baby ducks for cooperative members.
Unlike imported duck breeds that have a raising time of only about 50 days, Muong Hich blue-necked ducks are raised for 3-4 months before being sold. Thanks to safe food sources and being raised in areas near fields, ponds, and streams, duck meat contains high nutritional content. It’s not difficult to cook duck, just steam or boil, ensuring its flavour while saving time for preparation.
Through the farming process, the cooperative realised that Muong Hich blue-necked ducks have the advantage of consuming less food, are less susceptible to diseases and are suitable to local conditions, said Vi Thi Phuong, Director of Muong Hich Agricultural Service Cooperative. Most importantly, blue-necked ducks gain the trust of consumers due to their good quality, ensuring stable income for farming households and cooperative members.
Last year, Muong Hich blue-necked duck product was certified by the provincial People's Committee as a three-star product under the One Commune One Product (OCOP) programme. As a result, its consumption market has been expanded and more people know about the product.
It costs about 200,000 VND (8.1 USD) per one live duck and 250,000 VND per vacuum-packed duck.
Customers mainly come from tourism, restaurants and hotels in the locality as well as from Hanoi and some neighbouring provinces.
The cooperative constantly explores ways to promote products and build brands to secure stable output. Farmers are encouraged to apply scientific and technological advances in farming to achieve high economic efficiency, gradually expanding the scale of duck farming for the cooperatives, thus, helping thecommune meet advanced new-style rural standards in the coming time.
Maximizing local potential and advantages, Yen Tri commune in Yen Thuy district is actively promoting the cultivation of medicinal herbs and turning medicinal herbs into One Commune - One Product (OCOP) products.
Situated at the gateway to the Northwest, Hoa Binh province has a population of over 900,000, including about 540,000 of working age. It is home to 6,000 businesses and production facilities, providing employment for over 100,000 workers. The remaining workforce is engaged in informal jobs, works in enterprises outside the province, or contributes to agro-forestry-fisheries. Additionally, around 3,000 workers are employed abroad.
The Hoa Binh provincial People's Committee has issued Decision No. 2767/QD-UBND announcing the rankings of departments, agencies, districts and Hoa Binh city in the Public Administration Reform Index (PAR) and the Satisfaction Index of Public Administration Services (SIPAS) in 2024.
The cultivation of Dam Xanh fish (Bangana lemassoni), a unique fish species, has seen remarkable growth in Mai Chau district, thanks to its high economic value and effectiveness. Initially concentrated in Van Mai commune, farming has now extended to four other communes, namely Mai Hich, Mai Ha, Chieng Chau, and Son Thuy. These areas benefit from pristine underground water flowing from mountain crevices, providing ideal conditions for raising this specialty fish.
In 2024, the total state budget revenue of Hoa Binh Province is estimated at approximately VND 6,930 billion, achieving 183% of the Government’s target, 126% of the target assigned by the Provincial People's Council, and 145% compared to the same period last year.
In 2024, Hoa Binh province has shown signs of improvement in attracting investment and developing enterprises.
