Protect intellectual property rights for Lao Cai agricultural products

In 2020, Muong Khuong pineapple was recognized by the Department of Intellectual Property (Ministry of Science and Technology) as the product brand “Muong Khuong Pineapple”. Since being protected, the pineapple area has nearly doubled, from 755 hectares to 1,480 hectares and the average yield increased from 250 tons/ha to 270 tons/ha.

According to the assessment of the People’s Committee of Muong Khuong district, the protected product trademark “Muong Khuong Pineapple” has contributed to improving product value, promoting market expansion, and creating stable output. In 2020, Asia Food Joint Stock Company built a factory to produce and purchase Muong Khuong pineapples to process into pineapple juice and pineapple jelly, contributing to improving commercialization capabilities and increasing income for people. .

In Muong Khuong district, there is still an ammo that has been granted a certification mark. Muong Khuong tangerine, yellow soybean, black pig, Na Lang leaf yeast wine, Cao Son Oolong tea are recognized as collective trademarks. Common brands include Seng Cu rice, corn wine, chili sauce, rocky mountain wine…

Some product brands supported with protection are promoting their value, creating brands, increasing selling prices and having stable output in the market, bringing practical economic value to localities worth billions of dong each year. .

Mr. Pham Duc Trung, Head of Economic and Infrastructure Department of Muong Khuong district

For Muong Khuong tangerines, the output reaches about 122.25 tons/year, the selling price after being branded increases by 5,000 – 10,000 VND/kg; Oolong tea products – dried tea buds increased by 20,000 – 30,000 VND/kg. Since building the brand, soybeans, tangerines and Cao Son Oolong tea have created jobs for more than 2,832 regular workers and 500 seasonal workers.

Like Muong Khuong, other localities in the province are increasingly interested in intellectual property work. The whole province currently has more than 100 protection brands for agricultural and rural products. The province is supporting branding and developing geographical indications for 16 new products such as safe vegetables in Bao Thang district; black pigs and cold water fish in Van Ban district; green rice flakes and black banh chung in Bac Ha district; red flesh dragon fruit, Hong Cam banana, seedless persimmon of Bao Yen district; Developing geographical indication Tham Duong, Van Ban district.

Recently, the Department of Science and Technology advised the Provincial People’s Committee to issue Decision No. 1246 dated May 24, 2023 on the Intellectual Property Development Program until 2030 in Lao Cai province. This is the basis for supporting the construction and development of agricultural product brands bearing the province’s geographical names.

Mr. Nguyen Manh Hong, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology

Implementing Decision No. 1246, many solutions were implemented, including propaganda about the value of protecting and developing product brands. The Department of Science and Technology has organized many training classes on intellectual property, guiding hundreds of organizations and individuals on procedures to register, establish and protect trademarks; Organized dozens of conferences to announce trademarks for products. The province’s product brands are used by organizations and individuals in production and business. Brands are printed on packaging, stamps, labels affixed to products, printed on advertising media to propagate to consumers and become widely known goods, with great competitiveness in the domestic and foreign markets. outside the province, bringing economic value due to the difference.

For example, in 2023, the “Bac Ha Plum” brand will help plum products increase their selling price by an average of 2,000 VND/kg, helping to increase 6 billion VND/year; The collective brand “Sa Pa Chayote” helps the selling price of chayote products increase by 2,000 VND/kg, helping to increase 14.6 billion VND/year or the brand “Nghia Do Gourd Duck” helps increase the selling price by 5,000 – 6,000 VND /con… Protected products such as sin co ginseng root (Bat Xat district) have been purchased by large factories and companies such as Dong Giao Export Food Joint Stock Company (Ninh Binh province). processed into soft drinks; O Long Cao Son tea (Muong Khuong district) is used by Muong Hoa One Member Limited Liability Company (Sa Pa) to buy tea from people, process it, and label it to export products to the market. Taiwan.

Although many results have been achieved, branding and agricultural product protection in the area still reveal limitations. Mr. Nguyen Manh Hong, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology, added: Some products are protected, but the products are developed fragmentarily and in small quantities, so they have not really become key goods. Many products have not had good quality management, have not been produced according to food safety standards and technical procedures, and do not have processing and preservation technology, so they do not meet market requirements. affects brand reputation.

To continue building highly competitive agricultural product brands in the market, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hong said that relevant departments and branches and People’s Committees of districts, cities and towns need to Coordinate and continue to pay attention to consulting work on planning areas for producing branded products; Include the task of developing agricultural product brands in programs and resolutions on socio-economic development goals, especially in the coming period (2025 – 2030) to develop production that ensures quality, brings long term stability. At the same time, localities need to pay attention to attracting investment in product processing and preservation technology, and encourage the establishment of affiliated units to purchase branded products for the people.