Lessons never forgotten…

Binh Phuoc has many advantages in terms of land and favorable climate for growing pepper plants. At its peak, pepper trees were compared to “black gold” that helped many sincere farmers become billionaires after just one good harvest.

However, in recent years, pepper has continuously experienced a period of falling prices, then “epidemic storms” have made it difficult for growers, many of the province’s major pepper-growing areas are in danger of being wiped out. According to Binh Phuoc Agribusiness statistics, the province’s pepper area is only about 15.7 thousand hectares. This area decreases sharply from year to year to be replaced by other, more efficient crops.

Once one of the largest pepper stores in the province, pepper trees provide a significant source of income for families in Bu Dop District. However, in recent years, the productivity of pepper gardens has been steadily declining, pepper trees have died off en masse, prompting many farmers to abandon their gardens or invest in moderation.

The cause was determined alongside factors caused by climate change, unusually unusual rainfall and sunshine affecting pepper productivity, but also human factors. Pepper prices fell sharply, while prices for agricultural materials and workers’ attitudes to gathering and tending rose. This has resulted in farmers not investing in maintenance and this is also one of the reasons for the sharp drop in pepper garden productivity.

A stroll through the townships of Phuoc Thien, Thien Hung and Tan Thanh has been the focus of Bu Dop district’s pepper crops these days. It’s easy to see that the once good green pepper gardens are no longer available. Instead, young cashew plantations are gradually encroaching on pillars of pepper or yellow pepper gardens, overgrown grass. Some gardens are planted with green-skinned pomelos. Some households use pepper poison to grow Thien Ly flowers. But there are also a few paprika gardens that are in the construction phase and are being systematically planted and cared for in the organic direction, with the aim of taking advantage of the opportunities that arise…

Bu Dop District Agriculture and Rural Development Department head Mr. Tran Van Thanh said that the direction of the district in the coming period is not to develop more pepper fields. However, the district also recommends maintaining the existing pepper area.

If you want to switch culture, you must choose the soil and climate appropriate variety to promote the benefits of the region. At the same time, the district will continue to spread and mobilize people to join the chain of organic pepper production, to gradually improve the value and brand of products, enhance competitiveness and create stable production for this item.

Mr. Tran Hung, head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Loc Ninh district, added that in the past the district has built links in the model of cooperative groups and cooperatives to reorganize the production of key crops, including pepper crops.

“For the areas of peppers that have died due to disease and old age, the district has instructed people to switch to crops that are suitable for the local climate and soil conditions. In particular, the district will support the establishment of cooperatives strong enough to organize the association of pepper production in an ecological and sustainable direction, and invite the companies to participate in the linkage chain to consume products for consumers farmers with stable prices .

“Calculated on the same area, there is still a higher profitability compared to other crops such as cashew, rubber, pepper. In addition, the people of Binh Phuoc have a long tradition of growing peppers, so they have a lot of experience. Therefore, the province is still guided by the fact that the pepper tree area will be about 13,000 hectares by 2025, the target is about 10,000 hectares by 2030 to ensure compliance with provincial planning,” said Tran Van Phuong, deputy director of the Department of Agriculture Information on rural development in Binh Phuoc province.

Organic production to meet global trends

In order for the pepper tree to develop sustainably, according to agricultural experts, not only must the pepper area be expanded, but also the focus must be placed on quality and production, rather than producing spontaneously and spontaneously. To bring the staple once considered “black gold” back to fame soon, the timely intervention of the agribusiness industry will serve as a compass to help people overcome difficulties.

In fact, linking it to organic production and meeting international standards is a trend in households that grow peppers. Since no chemical fertilizers and medicines are used, the production cost of pepper has been reduced significantly, the resale price is much higher than before.

In particular, through the production process, farmers said that organic farming has helped protect farmers’ health, farmers do not need to come into contact with chemicals and use them, so they are not affected by chemicals. At the same time, thanks to the application of organic engineering processes, the ecological environment is also restored to be healthier and better for human health.

Many models of growing organic pepper with high efficiency are reported Vietnamese culture mentioned in previous articles have proved that e.g. Mrs. Nguyen Ngoc Nha’s model in Hamlet 4, Hung Phuoc Commune always follows the organic farming procedure introduced by Nedspice Company; Binh Phuoc Organic Farming Cooperative Model in Dak O Municipality (Bu Gia Map District) has decided to develop organic pepper to start production and business operations…

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Binh Phuoc Province, since 2013, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Binh Phuoc Province has been coordinating the implementation of the “Development of Sustainable Pepper Supply Chain” project with Nedspice Vietnam Spice Processing Co., Ltd. The program is implemented in 6 districts: Loc Ninh, Bu Dop, Hon Quan, Bu Dang, Phu Rieng and Bu Gia Map. By doing so, it has contributed to improving the quality of pepper products exported to the international market and brought economic efficiency to the farmers who cultivate organic pepper.

Many farmers who have inherited and spread the positive impact of the pepper supply chain sustainable development program have changed their farming mindset from traditional methods to organic pepper production to achieve efficient production.

“In the coming period, Binh Phuoc will improve pepper quality, diversify products, and develop pepper production according to RA and organic standards, especially: selecting good varieties, planting at reasonable density, cultivating the right process to produce high-density firm pepper ; diversification of products, promotion of processing of white pepper and ground pepper; Developing production according to international standards for export… This is an imperative direction to ensure sustainable development,” stressed Mr. Tran Van Phuong, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Binh Phuoc.