From tradition to innovation: The 5-star OCOP journey of vermicelli

This is an inspirational story of how a female farmer in the northern province of Bac Kan achieved the 5-star One Commune One Product (OCOP) certification for her vermicelli products, made from arrowroot.

Nguyen Thi Hoan awoke with the sunrise, as she did every morning. Stepping outside, she took a deep breath of the crisp mountain air and gazed out over the terraced fields stretching up the hillsides as far as the eye could see. Vivid green shoots of arrowroot dotted the soil like emeralds nestled in brown velvet. This was her homeland - the rugged, beautiful mountains of Na Ri district, Bac Kan province. These fields and this way of life were all she had ever known.

As a Tay ethnic, Hoan still remembered the early days when she began experimenting with making vermicelli many years ago. At that time, it was simply a means of subsistence for her family. Like many other farmers in Na Ri district of Bac Kan province, they relied on the abundant natural resources around them. The hills surrounding their village were covered with arrowroot vines, whose starchy tubers could be processed into flour and noodles.

"Back then, we made the vermicelli just to avoid going hungry," recalled Hoan. Production was minimal, using basic manual techniques. She would sell the excess flour to other households manufacturing noodles in the area. It was difficult work, but it sustained them.

Over time, Hoan grew more interested in perfecting the craft and expanding the business. In 1991, she married and, together with her husband, began cultivating arrowroot on approximately one hectare of land. This gave them more control over the raw materials and allowed them to increase output. As orders grew, they hired additional farmhands to assist.

"At the peak, we had up to five villagers helping out. I would ride my motorbike long distances just to find customers, traveling as far as Cao Bang province. Not everyone was receptive at first, but I persisted," said Hoan. Gradually, word spread about the tastiness of Na Ri's vermicelli. Wholesale clients in larger cities became regular customers.

In 2007, demand had increased enough that Hoan took out a bank loan to purchase the first mechanized production line. Capacity jumped to 50 kilograms per day, allowing them to take on much larger orders. Hoan's determination and the quality of her noodles attracted even more distributors across northern Vietnam and even in China. Yet she was not satisfied.

"I saw that we couldn't just focus on enriching ourselves - we had to help improve livelihoods in our community too," remarked Hoan. In 2018, in discussion with other like-minded villagers, she officially established the Tai Hoan Cooperative with 16 founding members. Their goal was to raise standards and expand sustainably using a cooperative model.

She explained, "Forming the cooperative allowed us to professionalize operations and better support local farmers. They needed stable markets for their vermicelli and technical assistance to improve productivity. Working together through the cooperative model has benefited everyone."

A turning point came in late 2018 when Tai Hoan Cooperative joined the Commercial Smallholders Support Project (CSSP) funded by IFAD. "CSSP opened our eyes to possibilities through technical support and investment," explained Hoan. Over the next two years, the project provided intensive training in modern production practices, quality control, packaging, and branding.

In 2020, CSSP invested $10,000 to construct an advanced processing facility for Tai Hoan. "This funding was crucial to meet stringent hygiene requirements as output expanded five-fold," Hoan noted appreciatively. Equipped with new machinery, the cooperative's daily capacity increased from 50kg to 250kg of vermicelli while maintaining the highest standards.

The cooperative's efforts paid off in 2021 when Tai Hoan's vermicelli achieved OCOP's prestigious gold certification with a five-star rating, the first such honor in Bac Kan. This national certification initiative encourages rural economic development through geographical indications and origin trademarks. It has helped drive commercial success for many artisanal specialties. "This wonderful recognition opened many doors, allowing us to sign contracts nationwide," said Hoan proudly.

Hoan noted, "Achieving the OCOP ratings pushes us to continuously strengthen management systems, hygiene standards, branding, and marketing." Strict testing confirms that the noodles meet all food safety requirements to supply discerning modern markets.

Lifted by the initial success, Tai Hoan pursued even greater ambitions. With further co-financing from CSSP, a new automated noodle plant was commissioned in 2022 with a daily capacity of three tons. "CSSP's ongoing technical and marketing guidance has been invaluable as we modernize," Ms. Hoan gratefully noted.

Duong Van Huan, chairman of the Bac Kan Provincial Cooperative Alliance, observed, "Through Tai Hoan's example, arrowroot farming has been transformed from subsistence to profitable enterprise. By adopting participatory people-centered solutions and understanding grassroots realities, we can empower communities to drive their sustainable development through market solutions."

Vice Chairperson of Bac Kan People’s Committee Do Thi Minh Hoa praised Tai Hoan's achievements, stating, "Tai Hoan Cooperative has become a wonderful example of how local farmers can transform their traditional products into high-quality, marketable goods. Their success has not only improved the livelihoods of the cooperative's members but has also contributed significantly to the economic development of the entire region."

Today, arrowroot vermicelli, produced by Tai Hoan Cooperative, is renowned for its excellent quality and taste. The cooperative has established a strong presence in both domestic and international markets. They supply their products to supermarkets, restaurants, and distributors across Vietnam and have even started exporting to neighboring countries.

The success of Tai Hoan Cooperative has brought about positive changes in the local community. More farmers in Na Ri district have been inspired to cultivate arrowroot and join the cooperative, boosting their income and improving their standard of living. The cooperative provides technical assistance, training, and a stable market for its members, empowering them to become successful entrepreneurs.

Nguyen Thi Hoan, the driving force behind Tai Hoan Cooperative, is proud of its accomplishments but remains focused on the future. She plans to expand their production capacity further, invest in research and development to create new products, and explore additional export opportunities.

Through their dedication and hard work, the members of Tai Hoan Cooperative have transformed their humble vermicelli into a five-star culinary delight, leaving a lasting impact on their community and the vermicelli industry as a whole.

The Commercial Smallholder Support Project (CSSP) aims to address inequality and environmental degradation in rural Vietnam by building on previous IFAD initiatives focused on rural business development and agroforestry.

The project will first develop investment and climate change adaptation plans, including action plans and awareness-raising to improve climate resilience. It will then support the creation of market-oriented socioeconomic development plans that account for climate challenges. The project will also promote equitable ownership and efficient use of forest resources by developing or strengthening nearly 2,000 common interest groups to implement climate change adaptation technologies and practices.

Additionally, the project will provide support to women's development funds and establish an agribusiness promotion investment fund to catalyze private sector agricultural enterprises. Overall, the project seeks to drive sustainable economic growth and development in the rural Bac Kan and Cao Bang provinces of Vietnam.