Modestly admitting the cooperative is still too young, Mr. Pham Quang Chung said that he is still carefully taking steps to contribute to the effort to improve the value of pepper, and process organic products from pepper for human Vietnamese consumption.
Pepper trees have a long attachment to the border land of Loc Ninh district (Binh Phuoc). Loc Ninh pepper is also a well-known brand name after the reunification of the country.
Born in 1979, Chung and his father’s generation migrated to the South to find a new land and have been associated with pepper trees for 18 years. That was enough time for him to see the ups and downs associated with the pepper tree
During a recent crop survey by the Vietnam Pepper Association (VPA) in Loc Ninh, the Viet Na Pepper Association (VPA) evaluated the effects of the climate, along with the low world pepper prices, The farmer’s income life is facing many difficulties.
Mr. Chung admitted that from 2016 to now, prices were low, many people could not meet the need to balance revenue and expenditure to re-invest.
When the market is having waves, the selling price of clean pepper is not much better.
“But I do believe there is a long way to go for quintessence. I personally choose organic farming 5 years ago, ”said Chung
From the initial ecological model supported and replicated by everyone, to May 2020, Loc Quang organic pepper cooperative (in Loc Quang commune, Loc Ninh district) was born and led by Mr. Chung.
The cooperative is made up of 9 members of the Commune Farmers’ Association, who have many years of organic pepper cultivation, with a total area of more than 21 hectares.
Pepper development model in cooperatives using bio-products or utilizing locally available waste sources such as plant residue, manure …
“I think the organic direction is right and in line with the world trend when it is possible to limit pesticides and chemical fertilizers,” said Mr. Chung.
Despite many difficulties, but up to now, Loc Ninh is still the locality with the largest pepper area in the province (more than 4,740 ha, accounting for 27.6% of the whole province).
According to Mr. Chung, one of the reasons that help many farmers keep their pepper orchards is through applying organic sustainable farming process combined with goat farming.
This combined model both helps farmers maintain their income while supports organic fertilizer for pepper to grow, and pepper growers reduce production costs.
Mr. Hoang Van Thuy, member of Loc Quang Pepper Cooperative is applying the model combining organic pepper cultivation and goat farming.
Mr. Thuy said, one of the ecological measures he implemented was planting peanut grass right in the pepper garden. This grass helps to resist erosion and keeps the soil moist.
After cutting, this layer of peanut grass both adds organic humus to the pepper garden and serves as food to feed the goats
“The source of manure from the goat stable is composted to fertilize the pepper garden, helping to increase soil fertility,” Thuy said.
Mr. Pham Quang Chung said that the cooperative currently only plans about 20 hectares of organic pepper to standardize the process from seedling, caring to the final product.
The final product that he said are products such as organic black pepper, organic salt and pepper, organic pepper in vinegar … being tested and processed on the spot by the cooperative.
Organic pepper product of Loc Quang Cooperative
Cooperative will make the production process transparent so that it can be traced, helping consumers to identify and feel secure about the product. Things to do to improve the quality of products processed from pepper.
Preliminary processed green pepper to make pepper powder
Powdered organic green pepper products
According to Mr. Chung, Vietnam has a developed pepper industry, but the spice processing industry is not strong. In the country, many large and small enterprises are investing in diversifying processed products for domestic and export.
Products of Loc Quang cooperative were introduced at a conference on organic agriculture organized by Binh Phuoc province
Mr. Pham Quang Chung discussed with leaders of Binh Phuoc Department of Agriculture and Rural Development about organic products
“Loc Quang Pepper Cooperative still has to work and learn a lot to contribute to the efforts to help Vietnamese people use processed products made by Vietnamese people,” Quang shared.
Mrs. Dao Thi Lanh – President of the Farmers Association of Binh Phuoc province said that many farmers in sustainable pepper clubs and models of safe pepper production in the district are contributing to affirm and develop brand value development of Loc Ninh pepper.
The establishment of Loc Quang organic pepper cooperative is a great effort of Loc Ninh district and its members. This effort will contribute to enhancing the value of the pepper.
“In the first phase, the Farmers’ Association of the district and province is ready to support to help overcome difficulties and make the cooperative more and more develop”, Ms. Lanh shared.
According to danviet.vn
