Committee looks to expand pepper markets

AN inter-ministerial committee made up of specialists from the commerce and agriculture ministries and several key stakeholders is considering ways to increase the export of Cambodian peppercorn.

Addressing a May 3 meeting of the committee, commerce ministry secretary of state Reach Ra described pepper as an important agro-industrial product which the government has included in a priority group of goods which have the potential to make a significant contribution to the national economy.

Representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries informed the assembled committee members about the current status of the Cambodian pepper industry, and several recent innovations that the ministry has introduced, including good agricultural practices (GAP), and clear and reliable monitoring and tracking systems.

The attendees reaffirmed their close cooperation towards promoting the development of Cambodian pepper exports, and those of other crops which have been highlighted as having strong economic potential.

Cambodian Pepper and Spices Federation (CPSF) president Mak Ny supported the opening of more pepper markets, saying the Kingdom is overly reliant on the Vietnamese market.

“For me, it doesn’t matter which countries we enter, because any new markets will attract investors. Past exports have been subject to tariff barriers, so prices remain limited. Even though we have a free market, most of our pepper is exported to Vietnam,” he said.

Hong Vannak, director of International Economics at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said that in order for the expansion of Cambodia’s pepper export market to be successful and effective, it is necessary for stakeholders to set goals and consider which countries need what from Cambodia.

“Once we have identified a specific market, it is necessary to consider building the capacity of the Kingdom’s pepper growers, and in what locations. Once our processed pepper is of a high enough standard, we will be able to charge premium prices, and this will increase the livelihoods of everyone in the supply chain,” he said.

In mid-April, the inter-ministerial working group discussed the improvement of the quality of Cambodian pepper, applications for certificates of origin, and the requirements of target markets, including sanitary and phytosanitary requirements.

According to the agriculture ministry, in the first three months of the year, peppercorn exports reached 822.654 tonnes, of which 765 tonnes were exported to Vietnam, followed by the US (26.14 tonnes), South Korea (16.2 tonnes), France (9.54 tonnes), Belgium (2.36 tonnes), Japan (1.38 tonnes), India (0.96 tonnes), Germany (0.90 tonnes), Singapore (0.10 tonnes), Taiwan (0.04 tonnes), Australia (0.03 tonnes) and Malaysia (0.002 tonnes).