Current status of production and technology for OCOP products in the Northern midlands and mountainous region of Vietnam

Abstract

The “One Commune One Product” (OCOP) program has been implemented in Vietnam since 2018, aiming to leverage local advantages, enhance value addition, and promote sustainable rural economic development. The Northern Midland and Mountainous Region (NMMR), comprising 14 provinces, has been identified as a region with significant potential but also facing considerable challenges in modernizing production technologies. This paper presents the findings of field research conducted at 37 production facilities and quantitative analysis based on 890 valid survey responses collected from OCOP producers across the 14 provinces in the region, focusing on three key product groups: food, beverages, and herbal products. The results indicate that the overall technological level remains low, with the majority of facilities employing semi-automated (52.1%) or manual (44.3%) production methods, while only 3.6% have approached automated systems. The main limitations identified include the lack of specialized equipment, fragmented production processes, weak technical and managerial capacity, and insufficient linkage with research institutions and technology transfer entities. Based on these findings, the study proposes a number of policy implications, such as developing a tiered approach to technological upgrading based on enterprise scale, providing targeted support for equipment renewal, enhancing technical training, developing infrastructure for processing-preservation-packaging along value chains, and integrating technology development into national target programs. The research provides empirical evidence to inform policy design for strengthening technological capacity in OCOP production in the NMMR, towards a more modern, efficient, and culturally distinctive rural economy.