Disease-resistant chili variety priced at VND 170,000/kg

This year, Phu Ha Agricultural Cooperative in Toan Luu Commune, Ha Tinh Province, expanded its Habanero chili cultivation area to nearly 0.7 hectares after its pilot model delivered promising initial results. Across the fields of Toan Luu Commune, lush green chili plants now blanket the farmland, highlighted by clusters of ripe yellow peppers alongside blossoms and young fruit. Thanks to its continuous flowering and fruit-setting ability, this variety offers an extended harvesting period and consistently higher yields than traditional chili varieties.

Mr. Ha Dang Dung, Deputy Director of Phu Ha Agricultural Cooperative, said that the Habanero chili originates from Mexico and is renowned for its intense heat and distinctive aroma. It is widely used to produce sauces, seasonings, and processed foods for export.

"I once used this chili to braise fish and was surprised by how much more aromatic it was than ordinary chili varieties. It is also significantly hotter. This further confirms that it has tremendous potential, particularly for producing chili sauce for export. Seeing that the variety has adapted very well to the local climate and soil conditions, the cooperative has continued propagating seedlings and expanding the cultivation area," Mr. Dung shared.

According to Mr. Dung, this is the first Habanero chili cultivation model to be implemented in Ha Tinh Province as well as the North Central Coast region. The crop was planted in late 2025 and has now entered the harvesting stage, with yields exceeding expectations.

"Unlike many other crops, Habanero chili plants continue to flower and bear fruit as long as weather conditions remain favorable. During the peak season, the cooperative harvests once every 10 days, while during the height of ripening, the harvest cycle shortens to about one week. So far, more than 4 tons of fresh chilies have been harvested from the 0.7-hectare area, and total production for the season is expected to reach 7-8 tons," Mr. Dung said.

He added that the entire output has been contracted by a company in Ho Chi Minh City at approximately VND 170,000/kg, several times higher than conventional chili varieties, generating substantially better returns than many other crops.

Beyond their high economic value, the Habanero chili model is being developed by Phu Ha Agricultural Cooperative under a chemical-free cultivation approach to meet the stringent requirements of export markets.

According to Mr. Dung, throughout the entire cultivation cycle, from planting to harvest, the cooperative uses only one application of a biological plant protection product, applied during the flowering and early fruit-setting stage to control pests and diseases. Once the fruit begins developing, no additional pesticides are used, ensuring the harvested product contains no chemical residues.

"Overseas buyers conduct extremely strict inspections on fresh chilies. If any chemical residues are detected, they reject the entire shipment. Once rejected, the crop can hardly be sold in the domestic market and usually has to be destroyed. Therefore, the cooperative must strictly follow the prescribed cultivation procedures," Mr. Dung explained.

Mr. Dung also noted that, unlike traditional chili varieties that typically require frequent applications of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, Habanero chilies are mainly cultivated using well-composted livestock manure and require virtually no chemical inputs. This farming method not only significantly reduces production costs but also minimizes environmental impacts while producing safer products that meet the increasingly stringent demands of consumers.

To demonstrate this, Mr. Dung took us to the field where more than 4 tons of chilies had already been harvested. He explained that the area had received only a single preventive application of a biological treatment, yet the plants continue to flower and produce abundant fruit, indicating strong yields in the coming harvests.

In addition to strictly controlling pesticide use, the cooperative also manages weeds using natural methods. Grass is intentionally allowed to grow in a controlled manner along field edges to help retain soil moisture. As chili leaves and grass decompose, they become a natural source of organic matter, improving soil quality and reducing the need for fertilizer.

Although the model has delivered encouraging economic returns, it still faces several challenges. According to Mr. Ha Dang Dung, the chili fields are frequently damaged by rats and various insect pests. Furthermore, because production has exceeded initial expectations while cold storage facilities have not yet been fully developed, harvested chilies cannot always be preserved in time, resulting in spoilage and financial losses for the cooperative.

In addition, market demand for this variety still depends heavily on a small number of buyers. The cooperative noted that only one or two companies nationwide currently purchase Habanero chilies under contract, making it difficult to confidently expand production despite the crop's considerable yield potential.

Besides the Habanero chili project, Phu Ha Agricultural Cooperative also cultivates approximately 30 hectares of rice under organic farming practices. The cooperative harvests more than 100 tons of rice annually, gradually building a clean agricultural production zone, increasing value per unit of land, and creating a more sustainable development model for local farmers.

$ 1 = VND 26,520 - Source: Vietcombank.