Representatives from the Southeast and Central Highlands regionsgathered on June 18 to discuss measures to sustainably shape theirpeppercorn industry.

Participants considered conforming to proven technical processes a key action.

Accordingly, regional provinces should plan pepper plantations andmanage production in collectives to boost experience sharing and cutcosts.

Growing, processing and preservationmethods require thorough research and careful application andagricultural promotion programmes need to be launched more often.

Concerning related commercials activities, local authorities andproducers ought to strengthen business links with major and demandingmarkets such as the EU, the US and Japan, and seek new markets from theMiddle East and Africa.

Meanwhile, domesticenterprises working in the sector should work to strengthen theirconnection with growers to build direct purchase networks across theregions.

The forum also set a target for Vietnamto have 50,000 hectares of peppercorn plantations nationwide by 2020, 81percent of which will concentrate in the two regions. Thus, annualtotal yield is expected to reach 140,000 tonnes, 90 percent of whichwill be high-quality, and overall export revenue will be recorded up to1.3 billion USD.

Vietnamese peppercorn plantationshave increased substantially to 86,000 hectares in recent years. Theindustry is now facing difficulties posed by rapid plantation expansion,intensive farming and poor techniques.

The nation posted a total pepper production of 152,000 tonnes in 2014.-VNA