Reconstructing the Gia Lai pepper industry: Efforts for restoration

The return of pepper

When the pepper gardens in the "pepper kingdom" of Chu Se and Chu Puh all perished, farmers were left destitute and in debt. Local authorities, the agricultural sector, and banks assisted by guiding them in crop diversification to revive the land where the pepper had died.

As a result, fruit orchards began to emerge, and coffee gardens were rehabilitated. Fruit trees such as durian and Thai jackfruit were intercropped with coffee. Following this, as the passion fruit industry grew, families rushed to plant passion fruit. Now, the focus has shifted to exporting durian.

By early 2024, the price of pepper has shown signs of gradually increasing again. The Vietnam Pepper and Spice Association (VPSA) reported that from the beginning of the year to October 15, Vietnam exported nearly 210.000 tons of pepper, valued at 1.05 billion USD (a decrease of 1.9% in volume but an increase of 47% in value compared to the same period in 2023).

"Cautiously" restoring pepper gardens

When the price of pepper was restored and began to rise, farmers in Chu Se and Chu Puh started to revitalize their pepper gardens. Many households took advantage of the remaining poles to purchase seeds and interplant them in the coffee gardens that were being rehabilitated, following a diversified and organic approach to facilitate care and generate income from both crops on the same land area.

According to the Gia Lai Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the province currently has 8.798ha of pepper, with nearly 8.000ha in the business phase, approximately 765ha in basic construction, and more than 130ha newly planted and rehabilitated.

Mr. Hoang Phuoc Binh, Vice Chairman of the Chu Se Pepper Association, stated: "To ensure sustainable development of the pepper plant, the Association regularly advocates for farmers to be cautious when selecting seeds for new plantings; at the same time, they should thoroughly apply scientific intensive farming methods to avoid risks".

Additionally, the Chu Se Pepper Association is connecting with purchasing enterprises and fertilizer suppliers to work with farmers in developing demonstration models for organic and clean pepper production, allowing farmers to learn and apply these methods to enhance economic efficiency.