Pepper growing in Tan Lap

QTO - Over the past years, the specialized agencies, authorities and people in Tan Lap commune have made many efforts to overcome difficulties to maintain and develop the pepper growing area in the area. Thanks to that, this crop still maintains its position as a key crop, bringing a fairly stable source of income for local people.

Determined to keep the pepper garden

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Nam's family in Tan Hao village has been growing pepper for more than 20 years. The soil and climate are suitable, along with careful care of the plants, so his family's pepper garden of more than 1,200 trees has grown well and yielded regular harvests. On average, each crop yields about 70 quintals of dry beans. In good years, the pepper garden yields more than 1.2 tons of dry beans. In years when pepper prices are good, with about 150-170 thousand VND/kg, after deducting expenses, his family earns a profit of 120-150 million VND. Thanks to that, his family has better living conditions.

However, in Tan Lap commune, pepper diseases often occur, and prices are unstable, causing many households to destroy their pepper gardens and change crops. However, with the support of authorities, specialized agencies and local authorities, and guidance on planting techniques and pest control, Mr. Nam still perseveres in maintaining his garden. “For old pepper plants, I choose good varieties to gradually replace them. For diseased plants, I isolate and promptly treat them. Thanks to the correct application of biological farming methods, my family's pepper garden is less susceptible to pests and grows well. I hope that the relevant agencies will pay attention to and provide more technical support and biological fertilizers for pepper growers in the commune,” Mr. Nam said.

Mr. Nam takes care of the pepper garden - Photo: KS

Although living in a particularly difficult area, Mr. Ho Xa Am, a Van Kieu, in Tram Cheng village is very sharp in economic development. In 2005, after visiting some effective pepper growing models in Tan Lien commune (old), he decided to invest in growing this plant. From a few hundred pilot plants, he has now developed to more than 1,100 plants. In years of good pepper harvest, he harvests more than 100 kg of dry beans, after deducting expenses, he earns more than 120 million VND/crop. Many times when pepper plants are affected by diseases, pepper prices are unstable, he still decides not to destroy the pepper garden but finds ways to overcome them. In order to not affect the family economy when pepper crops fail and prices fall, he intercrops coffee trees. Thanks to that, he keeps the pepper garden, helps the family's income to always be stable, and has the conditions to build a spacious house. Mr. Am shared: “I always consider pepper as a key crop. Therefore, I always keep close watch on the garden to detect and promptly treat signs of disease in the plants. At the same time, I strictly follow the measures of caring for and fertilizing the plants according to biological standards. Thanks to that, my family's pepper garden is always lush, the peppercorns are large, firm and fragrant, and are favored by the market.”

Orientation towards organic, safe and sustainable production

Implementing the 2-level local government model, on July 1, 2025, Tan Lap commune was established on the basis of merging 3 old communes: Tan Lap, Tan Lien and Huong Loc. Currently, the whole Tan Lap commune has more than 75.9 hectares of pepper, of which: Tan Lien commune (old) 53.7 hectares, Tan Lap (old) 6.2 hectares, Huong Loc (old) more than 16 hectares. People intercrop pepper with other crops such as coffee, bananas, and other crops. In recent years, the pepper acreage in Tan Lap commune has tended to decrease. The main reasons are pests and diseases, the yield and quality of pepper have decreased due to old perennial crops; the cost of agricultural materials has increased; most pepper growers still cultivate using chemical fertilizers and pesticides, the yield is not high, and the profit is not much.

Tan Lap commune leaders survey and orient pepper development in the locality - Photo: KS

To maintain the area of ​​this plant, the People's Committee of Tan Lap commune has strengthened agricultural extension work, regularly disseminated knowledge, provided guidance on planting and care techniques, focusing on encouraging people to produce organically and safely to improve the soil and limit pests and diseases. In addition, in 2013, Tan Lien commune (old) coordinated with the Quang Tri Province Sustainable Agriculture Development Project, sponsored by Roots of Peace (ROP) in Vietnam, to direct and guide people to restore pepper gardens and grow pepper seedlings for new planting. At the same time, established clubs to plant new pepper gardens, attracting dozens of households to participate. The commune also mobilized pepper growing households to participate in implementing Resolution No. 162/2021/NQ-HDND, dated December 9, 2021 of the People's Council of Quang Tri province (old) on regulations on policies to support the development of a number of crops and livestock to create key products with competitive advantages in the province and 23 households received agricultural materials to implement policies to support the restoration and improvement of pepper gardens infected with pests and diseases, low productivity.

Thanks to the participation of all levels, sectors, local authorities and people, the pepper growing area in Tan Lap has been maintained stably and gradually developed. However, at present, Tan Lap commune has not yet formed a concentrated production area; has not yet built a pepper cultivation area that ensures compliance with VietGAP, organic or equivalent standards; has not yet had linkages in production; has not yet created products with the characteristics of the commune.

Tan Lap has advantages in terms of land and climate conditions suitable for growing pepper. Income from pepper is more stable than from other crops. Therefore, since 1985, pepper has been considered one of the main crops, contributing to sustainable poverty reduction in the locality.

“In the coming time, the People's Committee of the commune will strengthen propaganda and mobilize people to maintain the existing pepper growing area, integrate the implementation of policies to support replanting and restoring pepper plants; enhance the role of community agricultural extension groups to promptly support and share with people knowledge and skills in cultivation and production; actively coordinate with provincial professional agencies and regional stations to monitor, manage, and promptly implement measures to prevent and control pests and diseases. At the same time, promote propaganda on organic and circular production; build groups with the same purpose and interests to share knowledge and production experience, as a basis for linking product consumption. Thereby contributing to increasing product value and increasing production profits for people", said Chairman of the People's Committee of Tan Lap commune, Ho Thuy Vinh.

Ko Kan Suong

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/kinh-te/202510/phat-trien-cay-ho-tieu-o-tan-lap-8534722/