After many years of hitting bottom, pepper prices began to increase again. With recent growth momentum, pepper is reaffirming its position as a key crop in many localities in Gia Lai province.
Pepper prices increased
Up to now, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Trung (Ia Ring village, Ia Tiem commune, Chu Se district) still regrets that as soon as he sold 2 tons of dry pepper, the pepper price continued to increase. Mr. Trung said: His family has 600 pepper pillars. Because the price was low, he did not sell it but put it in his family’s warehouse. Recently, he sold 2 tons for 124 thousand VND/kg. However, the next day, the price of pepper increased to 136 thousand VND/kg.
“Currently, pepper prices are on the rise again. Traders came to their homes to buy, but people still did not want to sell and waited for the price to increase. Besides, people mainly sell to pepper purchasing businesses in the district and some surrounding areas to avoid price pressure,” Mr. Trung said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Vu Duc Dan (Tung Mo B village, Ia Dreng commune, Chu Puh district) said: From the end of 2023 until now, pepper prices have begun to increase again. From 70-80 thousand VND/kg, pepper price has increased to 135-140 thousand VND/kg. Rising pepper prices help growers have a source of income and investment expenses back into their gardens.
“Not long ago, I sold a few tons of pepper stored from previous harvests for 100,000 VND/kg to pay investment costs. Currently, I have 8 tons of dry pepper left. With this price increase, I expect profits to reach more than 500 million VND” – Mr. Dan calculated.
According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the whole province currently has about 8,798 hectares of pepper, of which nearly 8,000 hectares are in the business phase, about 765 hectares are under basic construction, and more than 130 hectares are newly planted and replanted. Pepper area is mainly concentrated in districts: Chu Se, Chu Puh, Dak Doa and Chu Prong. From the end of 2023, pepper prices will begin to increase again. After harvesting, many households do not sell immediately like before but store to continue waiting for prices to increase.
Farmers changed farming methods
Although pepper prices on the market are on the rise again, helping farmers make a profit, there is no longer a situation of massive new planting like before. Instead, many households take advantage of the remaining pillars to buy seeds to intercrop in multi-crop, organic coffee gardens to both ease care and have a source of income from two types of trees on the same area. accumulation.
According to Plan No. 638/KH-UBND dated March 22, 2023 of the Provincial People’s Committee on implementing the Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy for the period 2021-2030, vision 2050, by 2030, the province will develop and Stabilize the pepper area of about 10,000 hectares, promote the development of pepper production in an organic direction, applying high technology.
Mr. Nguyen Anh Viet (village 19, Ia Tiem commune, Chu Se district) said: Previously, his family planted more than 1,000 pepper pillars organically. However, when the garden was growing well, it fell right at the time when pepper prices were low and many diseases died, so he was not interested in investing in taking care of it.
“Nowadays, not many people take the risk to expand the pepper area. Because in the past, many gardens were lush and green and only harvested 1-2 crops before being hit by diseases and causing mass deaths. Therefore, even though pepper prices have increased, very few new growers mainly invest in taking care of the remaining area, intercropping in newly replanted coffee gardens to limit risks” – Mr. Viet confided.
And Mr. Tong Van Truong (Veh village, Ha Bau commune, Dak Doa district) informed: “This year, I nursed 80 thousand pepper plants of the Vinh Linh variety. From the beginning of the rainy season until now, I have only sold about 50% of the seedlings. People buy seedlings to replant and intercrop in coffee gardens. There are also households planting 1,000-2,000 new pillars, but this number is not as many as before.”
Talking to reporters, Mr. Hoang Phuoc Binh – Permanent Vice Chairman of Chu Se Pepper Association – shared: “The increase in pepper prices is an opportunity to revive this crop with high economic value in the coming years.” . In order for pepper trees to develop sustainably, the Chu Se Pepper Association regularly propagates and mobilizes people in communes and towns when planting new trees to choose varieties suitable to the soil conditions of each region; Intercropping in replanted coffee gardens, not digging tubs, not cleaning the grass like before, but leaving it to retain moisture in the dry season, absorb water in the rainy season.
People also need to plant more shade trees, reduce the amount of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, increase the use of organic fertilizers, apply advanced irrigation technology, and save water…
In addition, the Chu Se Pepper Association connects with purchasing businesses, fertilizer suppliers and people to build demonstration models of organic and clean pepper production for people to see. Study and apply to improve economic efficiency. This is a direction that suits the needs of export markets to countries around the world today.”
According to NGUYEN DIEP (Gia Lai newspaper)
