Pepper prices increase – be careful when replanting

The refrain “good price, bad harvest”

During these days, the pepper garden of Mr. Ta Cu’s household in Hamlet 7, Loc Thuan commune, Loc Ninh district always has 4 workers harvesting. Because he grows sparrow pepper, his garden harvests later than other gardens. Currently, Mr. Cu has collected 4.5 tons of dry pepper. It is expected that at the end of the season, the pepper garden will yield about 5.5 tons on an area of ​​2.2 hectares. The selling price to traders at the garden is 105,000 VND/kg, after deducting costs, the profit is nearly 380 million VND. Mr. Cu excitedly said: “Last year, the price of pepper was only 60 thousand VND/kg, the harvest was just enough to cover the cost of care. This year, pepper prices have nearly doubled. Hopefully in the coming time, pepper prices will remain stable or increase and farmers will be better off.”

The pepper garden of Mr. Ta Cu’s family (right) in Hamlet 7, Loc Thuan commune, Loc Ninh district is in harvest season.

In previous years, pepper prices dropped sharply, many farmers left their gardens untended or switched crops. Meanwhile, Mr. Cu is still determined to stick with the pepper tree. Thanks to large land, Mr. Cu earns income from rubber trees, coffee, and goat farming to maintain and take care of the pepper garden. Currently, pepper prices are increasing but productivity is decreasing. Mr. Cu regrets not investing and taking care of the garden properly in the previous period.

Many pepper farmers in Loc Thuan commune, Loc Ninh district earn hundreds of millions of dong thanks to high pepper prices in 2024.

At a time when pepper prices were from 190-220 thousand VND/kg, Mr. Nguyen Dang Hanh’s family in Hamlet 10, Loc Thuan commune became rich quickly by planting 5,000 pepper stalks. When harvesting 2 crops, Mr. Hanh plans to expand the garden area. However, all his plans failed. In 2019, pepper prices plummeted to less than 40,000 VND/kg. Instead of expanding the area, he only took care of it moderately and converted part of the area to growing durian.

Having experienced both a “price storm” and a “disease storm”, the area of ​​his family’s pepper garden was only more than half, and the productivity was no longer as good as when it was first planted. This year, after harvesting, Mr. Hanh prepares the seeds, and when the rainy season comes, he will plant pepper. Mr. Hanh said: “I plan to destroy some old, low-yield pepper trees to plant 1,500 more pepper trees. Currently, pepper prices are more than 100,000 VND/kg, so farmers have quite high profits.”

Towards sustainable development

Nghia Binh commune has 134 hectares of pepper, accounting for the largest area in Bu Dang district. Thanks to linking production and product consumption chains, this locality has maintained a stable pepper area for many years. The commune has established 3 organic pepper cooperative groups, with 111 participating members.

Farmers in Binh Phuoc province harvest the 2024 pepper crop

In 2017, Ms. Luu Thi Tinh’s family in Binh Minh village, Nghia Binh commune participated in the project “Developing a sustainable pepper supply chain” by the agricultural industry in collaboration with Nedspice Vietnam Spice Processing Company Limited in Binh. Phuoc implemented in Bu Dang district. Currently, Ms. Tinh’s family cultivates 2 hectares of pepper, planted in 2014. Recently, many pepper gardens in the province died due to epidemics, but Ms. Tinh’s garden is always green and lush with lush branches and leaves thanks to cultivation. according to organic processes. In the 2024 crop, her family harvested 8 tons, with an average yield of 4 tons/ha. All organic pepper products are purchased by Nedspice Vietnam Spice Processing Co., Ltd. at a price of 110,000 VND/kg, 5,000 VND/kg higher than the market price.

Ms. Tinh said: “Previously, every household used fertilizers and chemicals on pepper gardens, but now participating in the project, people have changed their perception of farming. Do not use herbicides in the garden, just use a generator and let it rot on site as compost. The soil in the pepper garden is therefore always moist and loose, and beneficial organisms develop, making the garden air fresh. Thanks to microbial fertilization, pepper plants grow healthily, are less susceptible to pests and diseases and have high yields.” From the real story of Ms. Tinh’s family, it shows that linking the production chain has increased product value, contributing to the sustainable development of pepper trees.

Binh Phuoc province has more than 12,900 hectares of pepper trees, of which more than 12,200 hectares are being harvested. Compared to 2019, the pepper area in the province decreased by more than 4,200 hectares. Pepper prices have increased, many farmers have the mentality to invest in taking care of their gardens again or planting new areas. In fact, lessons learned from the massive development of rubber in the 2008-2012 period and pepper in the 2010-2017 period have caused many farmers to fall into a vicious cycle of “planting tight, planting less” that has not been resolved until now. recoverable.

Therefore, to avoid massive planting, leading to surplus products, the agricultural sector of Binh Phuoc province is strengthening propaganda and raising people’s awareness about the pepper market and potential risks. At the same time, localities also need to have clear planning on planting areas, guidance on cultivation techniques, pest prevention, and associated with a stable and sustainable output market for pepper plants.