New pepper federation set to promote sector

THE government has formed a new federation for t he countr y’s pepper industr y to enhance the market and solve challenges in t he sector, as t he cash crop is current ly facing depressed prices.

The Cambodia Pepper and Spice Federation was joint ly formed last Friday by t he Ministries of Commerce, and Agriculture, Forestr y and Fisheries.

Amru Rice Cambodia CEO Song Saran who has been elected as t he federation’s president said it is no different from the Cambodia Rice Federation in t hat it will work on seek ing markets for pepper and be involved in pepper cultivation issues.

“The federation will promote the va lue of our pepper and look for new markets, especia lly for non-GI pepper,” he said, adding t hat farmers will not be rely ing on informal exports to Thailand and Vietnam.

“We want to have our own markets, build a name for Cambodian pepper, and solve a l l t he challenges in t he industr y,” he said.

The pepper federation has 17 members from pepper cooperatives across t he Kingdom t hat will ra ise issues to the federation and work together with the t wo ministries to resolve t hem.

Saran said t he countr y grows mainly black pepper, of which 20,000 tonnes on average are produced annua l ly.

He said the pepper price current ly stands between $2.50 and $ 3 per kg, which is not sustainable for farmers.

Kampot Pepper Promotion Association president Ngoun Lay, who is a lso on the board of t he new federation, will be a key player in developing t he pepper industr y.

“We should focus on how to build trust wit h customers and maintain the qualit y of our pepper. Then it will have a market,” he said.

Kim Sour Pepper Farm manager Bean Kheang Chou expressed hope t hat t he federation will promote its pepper products to ensure a stable market.

“We are now struggling wit h pricing and it is hard to find buyers. If t he federation could advertise our pepper in internationa l markets, and improve t he price, it would be helpful for farmers,” he said

He said his operation which is located in Pursat province can produce 60 tonnes of pepper annually, but he could only sell to China and Vietnam at the current unprofitable price.