Pepper Production Increase Sought

Pepper Production Increase Sought

Pepper farms and exporters are seeking to increase production in Cambodia to meet the high potential for export of the commodity.

A discussion via virtual meeting is to be held on March 31 under the auspices of the Cambodia Pepper and Spices Federation. It has confirmed key pepper-processing firms and exporters including amru rice, sela pepper and confirel among other firms will join the meeting.

The main topics on the agenda according to the federation’s Operation Manager. Van Vannal will be the commodity’s 2021 production and problems and solutions faced by export and processing firms and contract farming in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We currently have 11 exporting firms, so we will be able to estimate how many tonnes of pepper production will be available for export in 2021,” Vannal added.

Problems facing the sector raised in the meeting will be reported and submitted to the relevant ministries and institutions for solutions, he added.

A report from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries showed that pepper plantation nationwide covered 6,822 hectares in 2020.

The ministry stated that of total pepper production, GI pepper accounts for between 70 and 100 tonnes per year, with organic pepper contributing between 100 to 150 tonnes yearly. Normal pepper production accounts for roughly 18,000 tonnes annually.

The planting of pepper is expected to increase this year thanks to growing demand for the condiment on the international market, particularly from China.

That figure is expected to increase by 5 percent to 7,163 hectares this year.