(HBO) - In recent years, identifying the benefits from lemongrass, people in Thong Nhat commune (Hoa Binh city) have actively used the area of gardens and hills for the growth of intercropping lemongrass, bringing high income. In particular, the linkage model between the Agricultural Cooperative of Dao village, Thong Nhat commune with VietMec for the essential oil with high efficiency has opened up a prospect of new economic development, contributing to job creation and revenue increase for the local farmers.
Lemongrass Essential Oil products of the Agricultural Cooperative of Dao village, Thong Nhat commune, Hoa Binh city are for sale at the Agricultural Products Fair of the province in 2018.
Mr. Bui The Dung, the chairman of Thong Nhat People's Committee says that implementing a one-item program in each commune, Thong Nhat commune has chosen the lemongrass as a key product. Thong Nhat lemongrass has the advantage of big tubers and good leaves. It is easy to grow e lemongrass and it does not take much care. Thong Nhat commune currently has about 200 hectares of lemongrass, in which the Agriculture Cooperative of Dao village grows 145 hectares. However, the consumption of products still faces many difficulties and is forced to sell from 3,000 to 5,000 VND/kg by traders. The reason for the cheap price is due to the consumption market
Ms. Nguyen Thi Binh, the director of Dao village’s Agricultural Cooperative says from September 2018, the cooperative has cooperated with VietMec to produce lemongrass products such as essential oil, dishwashing liquid, house cleaning liquid and so on. Accordingly, the cooperative often consumes the lemongrass leaves and small tubers for the households. The cooperative has purchased about 300 tons of tubers and leaves. On average each ton of tubers and leaves extracts from 2.2 to 2.5 liters of essential oil at a selling price of 1.5 million VND a liter. The products from lemongrass of the cooperative are welcomed by consumers in and outside Hoa Binh city because they are natural and environmentally friendly products.
From the end of 2018, the People's Committee of Hoa Binh City has assigned the Economic Department to develop a collective brand scheme for Thong Nhat lemongrass products. Currently, the steps have been basically completed, waiting for the National Office of Intellectual Property to grant a certificate of the collective brand recognition for Thong Nhat lemongrass products. In the coming time, after being granted a certificate of collective brand recognition for Thong Nhat lemongrass, the Economic Department has the intention to stamp the origin of the products. The Agriculture Cooperative of Dao village manages the trademark to affirm the brand, increasing value and bringing Thong Nhat lemongrass brand more widely to increase the income for lemongrass growers in the area.
Dao Village’s honey – a product certified with a 3-star OCOP (One Commune One Product) rating by Thong Nhat Agricultural Cooperative in Dao Village (Hoa Binh City) – is highly regarded by consumers for its quality, richness, and variety in packaging. The distinctively sweet taste of Dao Village’s honey leaves a lasting impression on anyone who has tried it.
In alignment with Project No. 07-DA/TU, issued by the Hoa Binh provincial Party Committee on November 1, 2021, Lac Thuy district has actively promoted investment and supported the sustainable development of its industrial and handicraft sectors during the 2021–2025 period. Alongside this, the district has remained committed to preserving and revitalising traditional craft villages.
Located in the northern part of Lac Thuy district, with a temperate climate and fertile soil, Phu Thanh commune has great potential and advantages in growing tea. The long-standing experience, combined with strict adherence to organic farming practices in the tea gardens, ensures that the dried tea products from Phu Thanh and Lac Thuy as a whole are sold out immediately upon production, providing a stable and prosperous life for the local people.
Amid efforts to streamline the administrative apparatus, Hoa Binh province has intensified measures to address challenges in land clearance, resettlement support, and infrastructure investment, aiming to speed up the progress of key projects.
Hoa Binh province has posted an unprecedented economic growth rate of 12.76% in the first quarter of 2025, marking its highest quarterly performance to date and positioning it as the second fastest-growing locality in the country, trailing only Bac Giang province.
Under current regulations, products in the One Commune – One Product (OCOP) programme that are rated three stars or higher must undergo re-evaluation every three months. However, in reality, some of these products fail to consistently meet the required standards, raising concerns about the sustainability of their OCOP certification. This underscores the urgent need for producers to enhance product quality and gradually develop their OCOP products into strong, marketable brands.
