Quality production of pepper and spices is need now

Quality production of pepper and spices is need now

The Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Cambodian Pepper and Spices Federation (CPSF) have urged producers and farmers to increase production to meet high domestic and foreign markets, which will boost the export volume.

The encouragement was made by senior government officials and CPSF at the federation’s plenary session held on December 23. Speaking at the event, Op Rady, Deputy Director General of the General Department of Trade Promotion of the Ministry of Commerce, said that relevant ministries and institutions have worked constantly to prepare relevant legal documents and training courses on cultivation, hygiene, processing, packaging and standards to meet the needs in the local and international markets.

“Pepper traders, farmers, processors and operators should increase value-added price by strengthening and expanding the value chain on cultivation, processing, hygiene and packaging under the verified brand to ensure the quality and certificate of origin to meet the needs of both domestic and foreign customers,” Op Rady said.

Pepper is grown in many provinces, especially Tboung Khmum, Ratanakiri, Kratie, Mondulkiri and Kampot, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries.

From 2010 to 2020, pepper farms increased from 861 to 8,008 hectares, and pepper products were exported to Vietnam, Thailand, the European Union, Switzerland, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan and India, Khan Samban, Deputy Director General of the ministry’s General Department of Agriculture pointed out.

“In response to market demand, which has ensured food safety, farmers have turned to pepper cultivation in good agriculture or GAP and organic cultivation,” Samban said. The Cambodian Pepper and Spices Federation, established in 2019, has 14 companies and 15 community-pepper associations as members, with a total of 1,000 pepper families in the provinces of Kampot, Koh Kong, Pursat, Battambang, Preah Vihear, Kampong Thom, Thbong Khmum, Mondulkiri, and Rattanakiri.

CPSF President Mak Ny said that the federation will continue to work closely with relevant ministries and development partners to help promote the Cambodian pepper sector to have a wider market.

Pepper is grown in many areas in Cambodia, including Kampong Cham, Thbong Khmum, Kampot and Kep provinces. Kampot pepper is the most well known with high price. It was granted with the geographical indication (GI) from the EU in 2016 and from the (WTO) in 2010.

Cambodia’s Kampot pepper has been also registered for international protection in 32 countries under the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications.

Vietnam is the biggest market for Cambodian pepper. The other markets were Germany, India, France, Belgium, Taiwan, Poland, Czech Republic, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Singapore, the US, Sweden, the UK, Australia, Switzerland, Canada, Kazakhstan and UAE.

From January to October, Cambodia exported 27,633 tonnes of peppers, up 457.47%, while Vietnam alone bought a total 26,887 tonnes. Khmer Times