What kind of pepper did a Quang Binh farmer successfully grow that produced good spice seeds, earning 1 billion/year?

Planting pungent seeds in the hilly areas.

Speaking to a reporter from Dan Viet newspaper, farmer Le Quang Hoan ( born in 1974, residing in Sen Thuy commune, Le Thuy district, Quang Binh province) shared: "After many years of struggling and working various jobs to make a living, in 2006, I returned to my hometown with the dream of getting rich on the land of my ancestors."

According to Mr. Le Quang Hoan, initially, he bought two pepper seedlings to plant as a trial. Finding that the plants thrived in the soil, he decided to buy several hundred more seedlings.

Farmer Le Quang Hoan (in Sen Thuy commune, Le Thuy district, Quang Binh province) stands beside his pepper garden laden with fruit.

Mr. Hoan said: "The pepper plants are grown using organic, natural methods on red basalt soil with a harsh climate. Furthermore, they are blessed with pure irrigation water from Bau Sen Lake, resulting in smaller, more fragrant, and spicier peppers compared to peppers from other localities."

To date, with 0.5 hectares of hillside garden, Mr. Hoan has planted more than 200 pepper plants, each growing luxuriantly, completely enveloping the lồng mức tree (a type of tree for the pepper vines to wrap around). In season, the green leaves stretch out, and the pepper branches are laden with berries.

To affirm its value and expand the reach of the Sen Thuy pepper brand, in 2019, Mr. Hoan invited farmers in the region to establish the Sen Thuy Clean Agricultural Products Production and Business Cooperative, with 15 members. He himself serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director of the Cooperative.

The freeze-dried pepper product of the cooperative owned by Mr. Le Quang Hoan was recognized as a 4-star OCOP product at the Quang Binh provincial level in 2023.

Currently, the cooperative has 8 hectares of land for pepper cultivation, including 3 hectares of organic pepper and a partnership of 10 hectares with 50 households in Sen Thuy and Thai Thuy communes. They will also partner with an additional 30 households, each with 0.5 hectares, in Mai Thuy and Phu Thuy communes.

Making OCOP products is not just for selling, but also out of love for our homeland.

Mr. Le Quang Hoan stated: "The cooperative's freeze-dried pepper product was recognized as meeting the OCOP 4-star standard at the Quang Binh provincial level in 2023."

Farmer Le Quang Hoan often brings his freeze-dried pepper products to introduce and promote them at fairs and events.

"I often attend fairs and events inside and outside the province to display and introduce my freeze-dried pepper products, and I'm always proud to say that producing OCOP 4-star certified pepper is not just about profit; it's also about my love for my homeland."

"Speaking of Sen Thuy pepper, it appeared more than two decades ago. It's very fragrant, intensely spicy, and makes an excellent seasoning for dishes. However, very few people know about it. After many sleepless nights, I decided to invest my money and effort into producing high-quality pepper, not only expanding its reach in other provinces but also exporting it abroad," Mr. Hoan said.

Scanning the QR code on the packaging of freeze-dried peppercorns will reveal information about the product and historical sites and scenic spots in Quang Binh province.

The packaging of the freeze-dried pepper product features both Vietnamese and English text. Notably, the QR code not only provides traceability and product information but also displays information about historical sites and scenic spots in Quang Binh, such as the General Vo Nguyen Giap Memorial House, Quang Binh Gate, and Hoang Son Doong Cave.

"To improve the quality of its products, the cooperative has continuously invested in purchasing modern machinery and equipment. Each year, the cooperative sells approximately 15 tons of dried pepper, with a total value of over 1 billion VND."

"At the same time, it is the first and only cooperative in Quang Binh province to produce pepper in a closed-loop, integrated chain from household gardens to processing facilities, applying modern Japanese processing technology," Mr. Le Quang Hoan shared.

Source: https://danviet.vn/mot-nong-dan-quang-binh-trong-thanh-cong-ho-tieu-gi-ma-ra-thu-hat-gia-vi-tot-thu-1-ty-nam-20240623154941081.htm