Lao Cai advances agricultural value chains through OCOP program

Lao Cai province is transitioning from traditional farming to commodity-based agricultural production by leveraging its unique climate and soil. A key driver in this shift is the “One Commune, One Product” (OCOP) program, which aims to elevate local products from meeting basic standards to achieving high-tier branding.

A successful model of this deep OCOP development is found in the Sa Pa medicinal herb region, specifically with artichoke cultivation. Utilizing altitudes above 1,500 meters, artichoke farming has become a sustainable livelihood for hundreds of local households through a “four-party” linkage model.

In the Suoi Ho residential area, farmers follow strict cultivation processes set by enterprises. For example, Traphaco Sa Pa purchases artichoke leaves daily to ensure they enter a closed-loop extraction process within 24 hours. This rigorous control over seeds, fertilization, and modern processing helps preserve active ingredients like cynarin and chlorogenic acid. Consequently, Sa Pa artichoke products have become the first 5-star national OCOP products in Lao Cai.