Technical Efficiency of Edible Canna Production: A Pathway to Sustainable OCOP Noodles in Vietnam’s Northern Mountainous Region

Learning from Japan’s own successful "One Village One Product" (OVOP) movement, Vietnam’s One Commune One Product (OCOP) program aims to enhance rural economies by promoting value–added agricultural products, including noodles derived from edible canna (Canna edulis). Ensuring the sustainability of such OCOP products relies heavily on the efficiency of raw material production. The primary goal of this research is to evaluate the technical efficiency of edible canna production and identify the key socio–economic factors influencing this efficiency. Ultimately, the study aims to provide evidence–based pathways for enhancing the sustainability of the OCOP noodle value chain. Employing translog stochastic frontier analysis and Tobit models on data collected from surveys with 200 farmers in 2024, the research assesses farm–level efficiency. The findings reveal an average output–oriented TE of 77.45%, indicating a significant potential to increase edible canna yields by 22.55% using current inputs, thereby strengthening the raw material base for noodle production. Key socio–economic factors, including household size, access to extension services, membership in cooperatives, and awareness of the OCOP program, were identified as significant determinants of technical efficiency. These results underscore that improving the TE of edible canna cultivation is crucial not only for optimizing resource use but also for ensuring a stable and efficient supply chain for sustainable OCOP noodles. This study is among the first to empirically measure the direct impact of OCOP program awareness on farm–level technical efficiency, providing a new perspective on the effectiveness of such certification schemes. Policy recommendations emphasize bolstering farmer support through OCOP awareness, enhanced extension services, and cooperative participation, directly contributing to the viability of the OCOP noodle sector and improving rural livelihoods in the region.