The survey team exchanged directly with pepper farmers
After the survey in Dong Nai and Ba Ria – Vung Tau (phase 1), from 03 – 06/02/2015, Vietnam Pepper Association continued to organize the survey (phase 2) in some growing areas. focus on Binh Phuoc, Dak Nong, Dak Lak and Gia Lai.
Participants in the survey (phase 2) include representatives of the member units and Office of Vietnam Pepper Association. The survey aims to evaluate the results of pepper crop production in 2015: area, productivity, output and major issues affecting production results.
In order to ensure adequate information, in addition to the survey of pepper gardens and direct interviews with the garden owners (selecting households in the previous year to survey), the delegation also exchanged ideas with leaders and officials. Specialization of Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development of Binh Phuoc, Dak Nong, Dak Lak …. The specific survey results are as follows:
1. In Binh Phuoc
Statistics show that the total area of Binh Phuoc pepper is now 9,000 ha but in fact it is 12,067 ha, of which the area for harvesting is nearly 9,000 ha, significantly increased. The 2015 pepper output is therefore estimated at over 27,000 tons.
A specific survey of 3 pepper growing households in Hamlet 4, Loc An commune, Loc Ninh district on a total area of nearly 12 hectares, shows that the yield and yield of pepper here varies quite a lot depending on the age of the pepper garden and the variety. The pepper gardens have been harvested for more than 10 years, the yield has decreased by 30-40% compared to the 2014 crop. The newly planted pepper gardens have been harvested 2-3 years, the yield has decreased by about 10%. The pepper garden of Vinh Linh pepper farm has a clear lower yield than that of Trung Loc Ninh pepper garden, there are some Vinh Linh pepper gardens almost no fruit while the Trung Loc Ninh seed garden, carefully cared for, If you use organic fertilizer, if you have a good tree that can shade well, you can still give fruits almost the previous year.
Pepper garden in Binh Phuoc is planted on hillside land with high slope and good drainage
The reason why the productivity of pepper gardens in Binh Phuoc in 2015 decreased is mainly due to unfavorable weather during the flowering period (about May – July 2014). Irregular rain, rain at the right time of blooming makes flowers blossoming, young fruits fall in mass, especially in gardens with poor canopy systems. There are also a number of unusual causes that occur in some newly planted pepper gardens, the head of the household does not have good farming experience, improper fertilization or unbalanced fertilization, watering, and sinking. typical slope of the garden, tight tie the rope, etc.
In general, the surveyed households said that their 2015 pepper output was estimated to decrease by 20-25% compared to 2014.
However, overall, Binh Phuoc pepper production in recent years has many good signals. That is the area of pepper production in the direction of sustainability, the association in production and consumption tends to develop. According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Binh Phuoc, thanks to the determination of the coordination of a number of pepper businesses with agricultural management agencies of provinces, districts, communes and pepper growing households, since 2013 Binh Phuoc has formed 9 Clubs with 202 participating pepper farmers. In 2014, there will be 13 more clubs and in 2015, there will be 15 more clubs with a total of over 600 households participating. The pepper growing clubs have helped farmers to have better access to advanced farming techniques, especially the use of fertilizers, the use of pesticides at the right time, the right way, the use of disease-free seeds, reasonable use of water, etc., helps the pepper garden maintain good health, less damage when facing adverse conditions. At the same time, the quality, hygiene and safety of pepper foods during harvest ensure strict requirements of the market.
Many models of pepper cultivation also meet higher standards, such as RA (Rain forest Alliance) certification, a form of production besides quality factors also ensures environmental, social issues … Typically linkage between Nedspice Company and farmer's clubs, with the support of Agricultural Extension Service and Provincial Plant Protection Department. The difference of this form of production link is to help pepper farmers here better understand the process of safe and sustainable pepper cultivation, with quality according to market requirements, are committed to consumption, and weighed properly, so you are not afraid of risks and losses. Thanks to the organization of this production club, this 2015 season, many households sold 100% of the production to Nedspice Company at a price of 20,000 VND / kg higher than that sold to traders as in previous years.
2. In Dak Nong
According to 2014 statistics of the province, the total area of Dak Nong pepper is about 11,466 hectares, of which the new planted area in 2014 increased by 3,000 hectares, but according to Dak Nong Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the actual actual area is much higher. , reaching about 14,720 ha, the average yield of 21 quintals / ha. Estimated 2015 crop output of Dak Nong is about 19,000 tons, 3,000 tons higher than 2014 crop. January 2015 is the peak month for harvesting pepper in Dak Nong.
Surveying in detail some pepper growing households in Dak Song: Thu Thuy farm of 30 ha, pepper cultivation under ecological model, in 2014 some areas began to be harvested, gaining 18 tons; crop 2015 experienced rain during flowering period, causing a decrease in yield and about 10 tons. Household Vo Van Khuan, with 12 hectares of pepper, 8 hectares of aging pepper, poor productivity, 4 hectares of young pepper, the yield equivalent to 2014. Dao Van Nga household, with 10 hectares (18,000 posts) of young pepper, in 2014 collecting 40 tons, in 2015 died 800 pillars, productivity decreased, estimated to collect 30 tons.
Results of discussions with the provincial agricultural authorities and pepper growers showed that in general, in Dak Nong, pepper consumption in 2015 was less than in other provinces. In most districts, pepper is scattered in gardens, so it is not possible to estimate, estimated at 100 ha / year, particularly in 2014, it is about 303 ha. However, the death rate was lower than that of 2005-2008. The cause of the death rate was lower than before because pepper farmers in Dak Nong learned many lessons from 2004-2005, at that time. pepper area developed strongly in Dak R'Lap but was eradicated by epidemic diseases. Since 2006, apart from some Dak R'Li households, they have learned a lot of lessons in production, so this crop has been less affected, mostly because pepper growing areas in Dak Nong gradually moved to new districts like Dak Song. Cu Jut, Dak Mil, Tuy Duc etc … Pepper is grown on new soil so it is less prone to pests. In addition, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has strongly implemented agricultural extension activities, the technical staff has approached the village, trained, instructed farmers on the technique of growing pepper, using pesticides, etc. according to the process. Sustainable production so many places are turning to sustainable farming, not too chasing productivity, using excessive chemical fertilizers.
However, it can be said that the trend of pepper production in Dak Nong is also risky. Compared to other localities with high potential for pepper development, Dak Nong has the fastest growing area and has not shown signs of slowing down, so the authorities have not been able to statistically increase the figures. In many places of Dak Nong, farmers shifted the area of growing rubber and coffee to pepper. Farmers cut rubber tops, use the rubber tree itself as pepper posts. Many lands with slopes above 8%, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's planning, are not suitable for pepper cultivation but farmers here still develop.
Like other localities in the country, pepper in Dak Nong currently has not kept up with the development of production, so there is a high risk of farmers' use of floating varieties, without quality control, disease … especially the problem of traceability which is the basic foundation for sustainable production of pepper, according to the value chain, to create higher value for pepper when participating. However, Dak Nong has a policy to support up to 50% of the cost to make pepper according to RA or Global GAP standards.
Another important weakness in Dak Nong pepper production is that there is almost no model of contract production and consumption, linking farmers with businesses to minimize market risks. Dak Nong farmers finished harvesting pepper (mainly in January), mostly sold immediately to traders, creating a massive supply, causing the price to fall, in January 2015 only about 150,000 VND / kg of pepper at the beginning of the trend. World pepper market demand is still greater than supply.
3. In Dak Lak
Survey of the largest specialized pepper growing area of the province is Ea H’Leo district (with an area of nearly 4,000 ha), particularly in Ea H’Leo commune, there are 1,600 ha of pepper (of which 100 ha is over 10 years old). The survey results show that this is a region with a high level of intensive investment, using a lot of chemical fertilizers, farmers have a lot of production experience, but in the 2015 crop, most of the gardens here are poor, especially especially in the area of old pepper over 10 years. In addition, the weather in Dak Lak in 2014 was unusual, the rainy in June at the time of full bloom, causing a low rate of beans
Surveying 3 households, all of which have been harvesting pepper area for more than 10 years, so the yields of these gardens have decreased sharply. Nguyen Thi Lien household has 2 ha of pepper (3,700 pillars), in 2014 collected 9 tons, in 2015 died about 200 pillars, but estimated to collect only 5 tons. Household Nguyen Van Gia has 5 hectares, in 2014 collected 12 tons, 400 deaths in 2015, collecting about 7 tons. Le My household has 10 hectares, in 2014 collected 60 tons, in 2015 died 200 pillars, estimated to collect only about 30 tons. In young pepper areas of 4-5 years, the trees look quite prolific but the fruits are also sparse.
Ea H’Leo commune officials said that the whole commune harvest of 1,700 tons in 2014, about 1,200 tons in 2015 (down nearly 30%).
However, in general, according to Dak Lak Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, since 2010, the area and yield of Dak Lak pepper has increased sharply due to attractive pepper prices compared to coffee growing … making the area according to statistics of The province in 2014 was only about 11,000 hectares, of which about 7,000 hectares were harvested, yielding about 21,000 tons, but in fact the area is currently larger, about 15,000 hectares, so the 2015 crop output is still higher than the 2014 crop. 2,000 – 3,000 tons.
4. In Gia Lai
The survey results show that the situation of pepper production in Gia Lai in 2015 is similar to the previous year. Gia Lai is the province with the largest pepper area in the Central Highlands. Due to the soil, favorable weather for pepper, the market is attractive, so for 10 years now Gia Lai pepper has always been a tree that brought a prosperous life for farmers. Good profits have made Gia Lai pepper farmers not afraid to invest in collective, any land can be placed for planting pepper, regardless of the slope or suitable water source, inorganic fertilizers and pesticides. also used rampant … After nearly 10 years of hot growth now the pepper gardens of Gia Lai, most of which are small farmers, do not produce according to the link chain that has shown “infiltration”.
Pepper garden is dying fast in Gia Lai
Preliminary surveys in Chu Puh, one of the two districts with the largest drainage areas in Gia Lai, show that the 2015 pepper crop results are gray. Heavy rain in April 2014 was the most important factor causing damage to Gia Lai pepper. The household of Nguyen Van Minh (Ia B’Lu commune, Chu Puh district) planted 1,500 pillars of which 300 trading posts, 1.5 tons in 2014, 2 tons in 2014 (500 business pillars). Dao Tien Tinh (in Kong H’toc commune, Chu Se district) has 6 ha, in 2014, the harvest was over 40 tons, in 2015, the yield dropped sharply, about 20 tons is estimated. Nguyen Van Cuong has 10 hectares, in 2014 collected 40 tons, in 2015 died 500 pillars, productivity is estimated to reduce to about 20 tons. Only one household, Tran Ba Tinh (Chu Se commune, Chu Se district), has 1.7 ha of business pepper, which is at the peak of its good yield, estimated at 4-5 tons / ha.
Surveyed pepper gardens showed that gardens that do not pay attention to good drainage will be susceptible to damage, many pests are waiting for outbreaks such as diseases of fast death, slow death, root nematode, yellow leaf rot, mealybugs etc … the inevitable results from the “eat guava” cultivation, exhausted exploitation of pepper plants with chemical fertilizers, stimulants, etc. The use of pepper varieties grown in Gia Lai also affects productivity. The same garden was damaged but the Vinh Linh pepper decreased by 50% of the yield while Loc Ninh variety only decreased by about 10%
According to Le Dinh Huan, Vice Chairman of Chu Se District People's Committee, in 2013-2014, Gia Lai pepper has tended to go down, but Gia Lai's 2015 pepper output is estimated to decrease even larger, up to 40%.
However, some well-experienced, experienced farmers in Gia Lai saw the problem, so they have started to build sustainable, organic farming pepper gardens. good trend for next year's crop.
General assessment
first. 2015 pepper output: In general, in the surveyed households, the heaviest is that in Gia Lai households, the output can be reduced by 35 – 40%, Dak Lak by 30%, Binh Phuoc, Dak Nong by 10-15%. The cause of the decrease in production is mainly due to unfavorable weather, old pepper gardens, and overuse of chemical fertilizers, leading to exhaustion and susceptibility to diseases. However, in all of the key focus provinces, the new planting area has increased sharply in the last 4-5 years, so far has begun to harvest, especially 2 provinces of Binh Phuoc and Dak Nong, so it has compensated. Pepper output in the 2015 crop therefore did not fluctuate significantly compared to the previous crop;
2. A number of technical factors governing productivity: Survey results in all pepper growing provinces show that farming techniques are a very important factor affecting the efficiency of pepper production in 2015. The places where farmers are well trained, use good seeds and gardens Using a lot of organic, controlled irrigation water (make a good drainage or drip irrigation system) for a moderate yield of about 3 tons / ha will be less impaired output.
3. Problems using Carbendazim on Pepper: Surveying the key pepper growing areas, 100% of the interviews showed that Carbendazim is the active ingredient in some pesticides used on pepper for a long time to eliminate diseases very effectively, especially fungi. Chemicals are usually treated pepper spray in the rainy season (June – August) but farmers often do not use in the dry season because at this time, the pepper has produced fruits and the weather is very dry, so pepper is rarely affected. After harvesting, farmers in the Southeast and Central Highlands often expose 2-3 suns to dry enough to store, not using carbendazim to prevent mold. In addition, the chemical is fast decomposing property (only about 20 days), so it can be confirmed that carbendazole does not exist on trees and pepper until harvest.
However, because the survey team did not have information on how to store pepper at the collecting agents, the issue of whether or not Carbendazim residues on export pepper is still an open question.
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