The value of the program does not lie in the number of recognized products, but in the transformation in the mindset of the public and grassroots governments. Moving away from small-scale and fragmented production, many localities are focusing on transitioning toward agricultural economic development based on indigenous advantages, quality standards, and market demands.

In Na Son commune, the indigenous red peanut plant has been bound to the local people for many years, but it primarily served family consumption needs or small-scale sales. After being recognized as a 3-star OCOP product in 2023, the product’s value has been increasingly elevated, to the point where the annual output produced is insufficient to meet market demands.

Recognizing that potential, since 2025, the locality has replanned the raw material zone and encouraged residents to expand production areas. Developing raw material zones is linked with shifting crop structures. Many single-crop, water-deficient, and low-economic-efficiency field areas have been converted to cultivate red peanuts along a commodity direction. In 2025, the entire commune logged around 45 ha of red peanut cultivation. In 2026, the locality sets a target to expand the area to 60 ha, concentrating in Sư Lư, Na Lanh, and Lọng Chuông villages.

Nguyễn Thanh Lâm, Vice Chairman of the Na Son commune People’s Committee, stated: The local government is reviewing the entire production process to perfect the criteria, striving to upgrade the product rating to 4-star OCOP. The commune People’s Committee has directed the General Service Center to step up production technique guidance for residents through the “hands-on” method right in the villages and hamlets, while encouraging people to produce along a safe and organic direction. Once the raw material zone is well-controlled, linking with processing and consumption enterprises will be more favorable, contributing to upgrading product value.

In Mường Thanh ward, developing OCOP products is identified as one of the solutions to materialize the policy of restructuring the agricultural sector toward a green, smart, and sustainable path. Currently, the locality hosts six OCOP products and sets a target to have 13 products meeting 3-star OCOP standards or higher by 2030.

Trần Văn Sinh, Vice Chairman of the Mường Thanh ward People’s Committee, noted: Because the locality does not benefit from capital support policies under national target programs, building OCOP products relies mostly on the production subjects themselves. Therefore, the locality concentrates on disseminating and mobilizing cooperatives, enterprises, and production facilities to participate in the program, while supporting the finalization of dossiers, quality standards, packaging, brands, and legal conditions, striving to secure an additional nine OCOP products by the end of 2026.

The proactive spirit is also clearly demonstrated in Nà Tấu commune. The Resolution of the commune Party Committee Congress for the 2025-2030 tenure sets a target to develop seven to nine OCOP products, on the basis of upgrading the quality of three already recognized products. Trần Quang Trung, Chairman of the commune People’s Committee, shared that the locality is reviewing potential production households and evaluating conditions regarding raw material zones, production workflows, and market capacities before compiling dossiers. He added that this approach aims to guarantee that each OCOP product possesses a sustainable development foundation that matches market demands, avoiding chasing after quantity.

Proactively upgrading quality is also the choice of many OCOP subjects, a prime example being the Hồng Phước Cooperative in Tà Cáng village, Nà Tấu commune. Currently, the cooperative logs two products reaching 3-star OCOP status. In recent years, the cooperative has continued to invest in improving production workflows, perfecting designs, upgrading quality, and researching new product development.

Lò Văn Pâng, Director of the Hồng Phước Cooperative, informed: The unit is finalizing dossiers to re-certify one 3-star OCOP product, upgrade one product to 4 stars, and register an additional new product to achieve 4-star OCOP status. This serves as a preparatory step to expand consumption markets and upgrade the competitiveness of local agricultural products.

Practical implementation demonstrates that the OCOP Program is generating an important driving force for localities to plan raw material zones, standardize production, build brands, and expand consumption markets. During the 2026-2030 period, Điện Biên sets a target to develop an additional 200 OCOP products rated 3 stars or higher, while elevating the proportion of 4-star products and heading toward securing potential products that achieve national 5-star OCOP status.

On that basis, the province determines to continue concentrating on upgrading product quality, sustainably developing raw material zones, and strengthening production linkages along the value chain. This also stands as a major opportunity for Điện Biên’s signature products to expand markets, participate deeper in the value chain, and contribute to boosting rural economic development along a sustainable path.