1. Introduction
From 2020 onwards, Vietnam’s pepper area has remained fairly stable around 130,000 hectares with output ranging from 180,000 tons – 200,000 tons. Currently, there are more than 100,000 farmers participating in pepper production, 200 exporters and about 35 processing factories (VPA). Vietnam is the world’s largest pepper producer and exporter, accounting for over 40% of output and 60% of world pepper export market share.
However, Vietnam’s pepper industry is still facing many big challenges such as lack of sustainability in production, products are mainly traded in raw form so selling prices are low, and do not meet the increasing requirements well. than of the markets. Especially ensuring there are no pesticide residues in exported pepper products.
To maintain the number one position and gradually affirm the Vietnamese pepper brand in the world market. Vietnam is gradually shifting towards sustainable production of the pepper industry, in which organic pepper production is emphasized and encouraged to develop.
2. Development Organic agriculture, circular economy on pepper
Organic pepper production is not a new form of farming, but it has been practiced for a long time when pepper plants were first brought into cultivation in Vietnam. However, in the period 2000 – 2020, when pepper products are considered a valuable export item, pepper plants are invested in highly intensive cultivation, people pay a lot of attention to productivity and output, regardless of regulations. natural laws of development. Massive development of pepper plants, ever-expanding area, overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, disrupting biological balance, causing degradation of arable land quality. Seeds are degenerated, garden health is reduced… leading to mass deaths of pepper in some years. This has caused productivity to decrease, product quality to be unsatisfactory, poor quality living environment, biodiversity to decline, and natural resources of water, air, and soil to be polluted, increasing the effects. greenhouse, climate change.
Since 2020, people have gradually become aware of the dangers of developing pepper production against natural laws. Along with the development of science and information technology, natural and organic production forms have gradually been accepted by farmers and have initially shown positive signs.
Applying technical advances in developing organic agriculture and circular economy on pepper with the main solution being input control and strict compliance with production processes to reduce production costs. Thoroughly promote the advantages of natural agrochemical soil conditions that are already very suitable for pepper growing, plus the rich tradition and experience in pepper production of farmers. People are also increasingly aware that organic production is a production solution to create safe products, improve product value and bring sustainable income. Good production habits are gradually formed such as concentrated pepper production by region, making the most of available organic fertilizer sources, and thoroughly applying the principle of “returning it to the land” (We only take what we really need, the rest must be returned to the land), protect natural enemies, maintain biodiversity and protect natural ecosystems. Pepper cultivation according to forest ecological simulation ensures 3 tree layers including cover, middle layer shade trees (intercropped trees) and high layer. Since then, soil fertility has gradually improved, garden health has been improved, helping to limit pest attacks, the living environment has become better, product quality and prices are higher, and social security has been improved. guaranteed. Contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
The Central Highlands and Southeast are the two largest pepper producing regions of the country, accounting for about 94% of the area and 97% of pepper output. Of which, about 91.7% of the area and 93.7% of the national pepper output is concentrated in 6 key production provinces: Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Binh Phuoc, Dong Nai and Ba Ria – Vung Tau. Currently, in these 6 provinces, farmers have a strong tendency to switch from traditional methods to organic farming, forming organic pepper production areas. This is also a direction consistent with the general development trend of the world and welcomed by the international market.
According to PRDC’s 2022 survey results on pepper production in the three Central Highlands provinces, The area of sustainable pepper production that meets official export standards of demanding markets such as Europe, the US and China is as follows:
Table 1: Area of pepper grown sustainably and organically in 3 Central Highlands provinces
| No | Planting area pepper |
total area pepper (ha) |
Area ratio sustainable production (%) |
Area ratio organic production (%) |
| first | Gia Lai | 13,500 | 18.52 | 1.85 |
| 2 | Dak Lak | 32,800 | 28.96 | 3.35 |
| 3 | Dak Nong | 33,500 | 32.84 | 5.37 |
|
Medium |
79,800 | 26.77 | 3.53 |
PRDC survey data December 2022
Organic pepper production in all three provinces is quite modest, accounting for only 3.53% of the total pepper area. Of which, Gia Lai’s organic pepper production area only accounts for 1.85%, Dak Lak’s 3.35% and Dak Nong’s 5.37%. Most of this organic farming area is produced according to orders from purchasing units and currently this area is tending to increase in all investigation areas.
Table 2: Pepper output in 3 Central Highlands provinces
| No | Planting area pepper |
Total output pepper (tons) |
Yield rate sustainable production (%) |
Yield rate organic production (%) |
| first | Gia Lai | 15,500 | 14.84 | 2.01 |
| 2 | Dak Lak | 41,500 | 25,30 | 2.92 |
| 3 | Dak Nong | 73,300 | 34.92 | 3.02 |
|
Medium |
130,300 | 25.02 | 2.65 |
PRDC survey data December 2022
*Note: expected output for the 2022-2023 crop
The expected pepper output in the 2022-2023 crop year of the three Central Highlands provinces is about 130,300 tons (survey data in December 2022), a sharp decrease compared to the 2021-2022 crop year (188,500 tons). Of which pepper output from sustainable production areas accounts for 25.02%, Dak Nong has the highest output at 34.92% and most of this output is from production areas of revenue collection units. buy. The output of standard organic pepper accounts for a very modest rate of 2.65%, this amount of product is purchased by units at a price 20 – 30% higher than the market.
According to the report of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of 3 Southeast provinces. Currently, pepper areas in Binh Phuoc, Dong Nai and Ba Ria – Vung Tau are being supported to shift farming towards sustainable and organic production. In Dong Nai, the organic pepper production area has been planned to reach about 200 hectares by 2025 and about 500 hectares by 2030.
3. Some basic requirements for organic pepper production
Households participating in organic pepper production are trained and instructed to comply with technical procedures such as not using pesticides of chemical origin, chemical fertilizers, or genetically modified substances. ; Do not use the same tools and sprayers from traditional farming for organic farming; All tools must be washed before using for organic farming; All farmers must pay attention to keeping input materials from home gardens…
If the above banned substances are used in neighboring gardens, there must be a buffer zone separating them from the organic garden (the buffer zone must be over 1m wide); Protect the environment, prevent soil erosion, reduce pollution, optimize organic productivity and healthy development…
Organic farming gardens must ensure cleanliness (no packaging, medicine bottles, fertilizer bags, or organic waste in the garden and around the house); Maintain soil fertility by optimizing soil biological activities; maintain biodiversity in ecosystems; Maximum recycling of materials within the garden.
Growers focus on harvesting, preserving, and transporting products in the best way to ensure organicity and product quality… Organic pepper products when packaged must ensure absolute safety from dangers. external factors such as chemical contamination from pepper packaging; contaminated through the hands of collectors; Contamination from daily activities of people directly harvesting, packaging…
Although farming follows organic processes, productivity is not as high as traditional. The production process is quite strict and requires openness, transparency, and high production levels. If people strictly follow the regulations and organic pepper production process, it will take 3-5 years to start having organic pepper products for sale, but in return the pepper garden grows sustainably. Growers’ health is guaranteed, product output is always stable with a value about 25% higher than the market price.
Figure 1: Composting by-products and fish carcasses as organic fertilizer; Biochar fertilizer
Figure 2: Cultivated garden with 3 layers of crops; Traps sucking insects from biological products
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REFERENCES
- Pepper Conference, October 2022. Vietnam Pepper Association.
- Statistical yearbook of the 5 Central Highlands provinces in 2022.
- Vietnam Statistical Yearbook 2021.
- https://nongnghiep.vn/chuyen-trong-tieu-o-dong-nai-bai-3-tao-da-cho-tieu-huu-co-phat-trien-d335581.html
According to MSc. Nguyen Quang Ngoc, MSc. Tran Thi Dieu Hien
Pepper Research and Development Center
