Currently, Vietnam remains the largest pepper-producing and exporting country in the world. In 2022, Vietnam exported about 220,000 tonnes, accounting for 55% of total pepper production worldwide.
In two days November 9 and 10, in Dak Lak province, the Vietnam Pepper Association held an international conference on the Vietnamese pepper industry in 2022.
Speaking at the conference, Mr. Vu Ba Phu, Director of the Trade Promotion Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said that currently, Vietnam remains the largest pepper-producing and exporting country in the world.
In 2022, Vietnam exported about 220,000 tonnes, accounting for 55% of total pepper production worldwide.
However, for Vietnamese pepper products to sustainably affirm their position in the world market, the pepper industry needs to increase its ability to conform to international standards, especially in terms of chemical residues, and sustainable production criteria in terms of economic, social, and environment.
“In addition, the pepper industry needs to apply technologies to manage production and customer connection. At the same time, reorienting the image building strategy, strengthening the presence strategically in key markets, having specific and effective strategies for developing new products into premium markets,” Mr. Vu Ba Phu emphasized.
During the two days of the conference, there were 04 working sessions with the main contents such as an overview of the global pepper market, farming strategy, and sustainable pepper development following the requirements of the market, and the prospects of Vietnamese pepper.
In addition, the conference has trained more than 150 farmers from provinces and cities on techniques of sustainable natural pepper cultivation and low-carbon pepper, some notes in plant protection for durian intercropped with pepper, and pest control on pepper.
The conference was aimed at helping farmers to understand the new regulations from the international market, resulting in the need to adjust farming processes accordingly.
This is an opportunity for pepper producers, processors, and exporters to exchange experiences, share information and difficulties, and propose solutions to promote the sustainable development of the Vietnamese pepper industry.
Dak Nong has 16 entities certified to use the geographical indication “Dak Nong” for pepper. (Photo: Internet)
The conference was also an occasion for delegates to update the requirements and consumer tastes of the import market, thereby helping parties in the Vietnamese pepper supply chain to assess the situation as well as provide appropriate business solutions to meet the needs of the import market.
Ms. Hoang Thi Lien, President of the Vietnam Pepper Association, said that the conference was an occasion of bonding and intersection between buyers and sellers, as well as an occasion to promote the image, people, and potential of Dak Lak province, the key pepper growing locality of the country.
According to Ms. Hoang Thi Lien, to ensure the value of pepper and its sustainable development, there is always a need for close cooperation between exporters, processors, and producers.
Farmers must be placed in a central position and need to improve their farming knowledge. In addition, it is necessary to cooperate with enterprises in the pepper industry, specifically, we need to encourage enterprises to cooperate closely or associate with cooperatives and farmers.
According to the Vietnam Pepper Association, the global pepper area is 745,000 hectares in 2021, up 42.8% compared to 2020.
In Vietnam, the pepper area decreased significantly due to the sharp fall in prices, and the impact of the pandemic and climate change, from 152,000 ha in 2017 to 130,000 ha in 2021.
For more than a decade, the Vietnamese pepper industry has experienced a period of ups and downs when it reached a peak of nearly 230,000 VND/kg and when the price fell to 34,000 VND/kg. Currently, the price of pepper is 60,000 VND/kg.
Economists say that, in the coming time, pepper farmers will encounter some challenges such as unpredictable climate change and pest issues, and increasingly strict regulation of important markets also leads to trade barriers.
On this occasion, 32 typical farmers, enterprises, and organizations with excellent achievements linking production and export in 2022 were proclaimed at the conference./.