Current status of production technologies for OCOP products in the Northern Midlands and Mountainous Region of Vietnam

Abstract

The “One Commune One Product” (OCOP) programme has been implemented in Vietnam since 2018, aiming to leverage local advantages, enhance added value, and promote sustainable rural economic development. The Northern Midland and Mountainous region (NMMR) (before the administrative merger), comprising 14 provinces, has been identified as a region with significant potential but facing considerable challenges in modernising production technologies. The research was conducted at 37 production facilities using quantitative analysis based on 890 valid survey responses collected from OCOP producers across the 14 provinces, 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 key limitations include a lack of specialised equipment, fragmented production processes, limited technical and managerial capacity, and insufficient linkages with research institutions and technology transfer entities. Based on these findings, the study proposes a number of tiered policy measures, such as supporting technological upgrading based on enterprise scale, enhancing technical training, developing infrastructure for processing-preservation-packaging along value chains, and integrating technological development into national target programmes. The research findings provide empirical evidence for policymaking aimed at strengthening technological capacity for OCOP production in the NMMR, thus promoting a more modern, efficient, and culturally distinctive rural economy.