Over the past few years, Binh Tien Cooperative’s pepper has not only been exported, but the selling price has always been 20 – 30% higher than the market due to the application of organic farming processes.
Binh Tien Organic Pepper Cooperative (Nam Binh commune, Dak Song district, Dak Nong) was founded by Mr. Dong Xuan Lien (64 years old) in 2017 with 45 initial members and more than 100 hectares of pepper. To date, the number of members has increased to 68, and the total pepper area has also increased to nearly 200 hectares. In addition to pepper, the cooperative also has a number of fruit trees and medicinal plants such as avocado, durian, black turmeric, and Bo Chinh ginseng.
From the beginning of its establishment, Mr. Lien oriented the cooperative towards organic farming and built production areas according to VietGAP and RainForest processes (sustainable agricultural standards). Currently, the cooperative has a pepper area that has achieved VietGAP and organic certification, and Nam Binh Tien black pepper products have achieved 3-star OCOP certification. In addition to supplying the domestic market, Nam Binh pepper products are also exported to many countries.
Mr. Dong Xuan Lien, Director of the Cooperative, said that more than a decade ago, when pepper prices were sky-high, farmers abused chemical fertilizers and pesticides and exhausted land resources, leading to Many pepper gardens got sick and died. Therefore, he founded Binh Tien Organic Pepper Cooperative with the desire to restore soil health, protect the environment, people and develop sustainably, raising the value of pepper.
“This is the right and only direction. In 2021, the cooperative’s pepper products were granted a certificate of geographical indication registration by the Department of Intellectual Property for black pepper, red pepper, and white pepper products and are protected throughout Dak Nong province. This is the 111th geographical indication of the country and the first of Dak Nong province. That is the motivation for farmers to raise awareness and responsibility in building a sustainable pepper production area, maintaining the title, and enhancing the position of Dak Nong pepper. Currently, the cooperative’s products are not only well received, but the prices are also 20 – 30% higher than the market,” Mr. Lien said.
Mr. Le Van Duoc, the first member to join the cooperative with 6 hectares of pepper, said that initially he cultivated pepper in the traditional way. Although he rarely used fertilizers or chemicals for pepper, the products were still sold on the market. , prices fluctuate up and down. Since joining the cooperative and organic farming, the product is priced 10 – 15 thousand VND/kg higher than the market and is purchased by the cooperative so there is no need to worry about output. Another important thing is that he feels healthier and happier when his garden is not contaminated with toxic substances from fertilizers and chemicals.
Mr. Ho Gam, Chairman of the Farmers’ Association of Dak Nong province, is very pleased with the way Binh Tien Organic Pepper Cooperative works. Photo: Hong Thuy.
Similarly, Pham Thi Anh’s family in village 8 (Nam Binh commune) has nearly 3 hectares of pepper. In 2020, after joining Binh Tien Organic Pepper Cooperative, she switched from traditional farming to organic. Initially, the pepper showed signs of “drown” but after 2 years, the pepper pillars began to recover and grow strongly.
“I was fertilizing with chemical fertilizers and then gradually reduced the amount of fertilizer and stopped completely, causing the pepper plants to decline and look limp. But gradually things got better. Now the pepper garden is completely organic but has grown green and has high productivity like the previous chemical farming, while the quality of pepper is higher and investment costs are reduced. Not to mention the product’s safety and quality, so the selling price is higher,” Ms. Anh said.
Thanks to the fertile basalt soil, the mineral content in Dak Nong pepper is higher than in other pepper growing regions, so it is highly appreciated by domestic and foreign markets. Therefore, Dak Nong is one of the localities with the largest pepper production in Vietnam.
“In recent years, Dak Nong pepper has gradually asserted its brand in the international arena, opening up many great opportunities to increase its sustainable value because pepper growers are gradually changing their farming and production practices according to organic direction, towards international integration”, said Mr. Ho Gam, Chairman of Dak Nong Provincial Farmers’ Association.
According to Nongnghiep.vn
