To develop clean and safe raw material areas, many farmer households and cooperatives in Chau Duc district have cooperated in producing organic pepper, targeting the export market.
Choose clean production direction
Mr. Tran Xuan Tho, member of Son Lap village farmer’s association (Son Binh commune) has been attached to pepper trees for ten years. Thanks to organic farming, 8.5 acres of pepper grown on acacia and cotton trees have brought a stable annual income for the family.
In the 2024 pepper crop, Mr. Tho collected nearly 4 tons of dry pepper. “Over the past 3 years, I switched to organic care so investment costs are reduced. Although the yield is not high, in return the pepper plants grow well and sell for a higher price. In the past, many growers used excessive chemicals in traditional farming, leading to many consequences for the environment, making the land quickly become barren and affecting human health.“, Mr. Tho said.
Mr. Bui Thanh Hung, in Song Cau village (Nghia Thanh commune) also clearly sees the value and effectiveness of growing organic pepper. In the 2024 crop, despite being affected by prolonged hot weather, the 6-acre pepper garden grew well and yielded 2.5 tons of dry seeds. Mr. Hung said that although the yield is not as good as growing in the traditional way, there is no crop failure, the tree does not get sick, and it does not decline after harvest.
“I find that making organic pepper has many benefits. When we work organically, we do not use drugs that are harmful to human health. Regarding plants, I do not use toxic substances so the soil remains fertile and lush for plants to grow”, Mr. Hung further shared.
According to Mr. Than Xuan Dong, Vice Chairman of Chau Duc District Farmers’ Association, the conversion of farming style to clean, organic standards has partly regained the position of pepper. Through actual inspection by the district Farmers’ Association, currently the majority of households farming according to clean and organic standards have stable income, long-term commitment and can live healthily from this crop.
Linking sustainable development
Recently, through the formation of cooperative groups and cooperatives for sustainable pepper production, many participating households have had the opportunity to exchange and access techniques for growing and caring for pepper plants in an organic way. In particular, when participating in the models, farmers will ensure the source of product consumption and stable prices.
Mr. Ngo Xuan Son, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director of Rich Toan Dien Organic Cooperative, shared that the majority of members in the cooperative are farmers who have been attached to pepper plants for many years. Thanks to the District Farmers’ Association’s propaganda and advocacy, 7 farmer member households in the district and Dong Nai province, Ho Chi Minh City have linked up to produce organic pepper, with the desire to increase product value. and towards sustainable production.
Right from the first days of establishment, the cooperative has zoned nearly 50 hectares of adjacent farmer households in Xuan Son, Son Binh and Suoi Rao communes to create a raw material area. Participating households must comply with technical instructions and strict supervision of the cooperative’s environmental control board.
According to Mr. Do Chi Khoi, Head of the Department of Agriculture and Natural Development of Chau Duc district, the entire district has 5,077 hectares of pepper; Harvested area is 4,928 hectares, output reaches 9,856 tons of dry pepper/crop.
Chau Duc district has determined the goal of forming organic pepper production areas by 2025, creating a source of high quality agricultural products; Forming production chains associated with consumption of organic agricultural products, meeting domestic and export demand.
According to Mr. Son, before establishing the cooperative, he and some members had more than 5 years of organic pepper production. “For many years, I have not abused chemical fertilizers and pesticides to care for the pepper garden, but mainly used biological products to help prevent nematodes and root-damaging fungi. Also since organic production, well water is no longer polluted like before. The rate of dead trees in the garden decreased to only 3 – 5%; The cost of buying fertilizer is also reduced compared to before…”, Mr. Son added.
According to the plan, in the period 2025-2027, the cooperative will have a raw material area of 100 hectares of pepper; In the period 2028 – 2030, the cooperative will produce about 500 hectares of pepper in an organic way. Currently, the cooperative has signed a contract to purchase organic pepper products with Organics More Company. In addition, in the district there are also Phuc Thinh Import-Export Investment Joint Stock Company (PTEXIM CORP) and Harris Freeman Vietnam Co., Ltd., which are collaborating to purchase dry pepper from farmers in large quantities.
Article and photos: DINH HUNG – NGUYEN THANG
