Vietnam may lose top rank as largest pepper producer: IPC

A farmer waters pepper plants in this file photo. Vietnam may drop from the top spot as the world’s largest pepper producer, according to the International Pepper Community – PHOTO: VNA

Ho Chi Minh City - Vietnam may drop from the top spot as the world’s largest pepper producer, as many other producers such as Brazil, Indonesia and Malaysia are increasing their productivity and output in pepper production. In particular, these countries are focused on product quality and food safety, which are currently the Achilles heel of local pepper, said the International Pepper Community (IPC) at an event held on December 4 in HCMC, Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper reported.

The event, titled, “Vietnam Pepper Outlook 2018,” was organized by the Vietnam Pepper Association, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, IPC, and other international associations.

Addressing the event, Minister of Agriculture Nguyen Xuan Cuong noted that there was much spare ground available for growing pepper, alongside many opportunities to diversify pepper products. However, the allocated pepper farming land will remain unchanged for now or might be reduced, he said.

Instead, Vietnam has plans to restructure the pepper sector by producing high-quality products and minimizing the use of pesticides, to enhance the position of local pepper products in the global farm produce supply chain, stated Cuong.

Thus, Cuong stressed that local pepper producers and exporters should focus on food safety and the quality of pepper going forward to improve Vietnamese pepper’s competitiveness on the global market. Further, producers and exporters need to make more research to increase the added value of local pepper by processing pepper-based condiments, supplements, essential oils, perfumes or pharmaceutical products.

Data from a source indicate that Vietnam exported 220,000 tons of pepper during the year up to November, earning total revenue of US$718 million, down some 30% year-on-year because of the 38% drop in pepper prices.

The Vietnam Pepper Outlook this year gathered over 200 participants, including businesspeople, importers, exporters, government agencies, finance firms and international associations from home and abroad with interests in the pepper sector.