Building a value chain for Binh Que pepper

(QNO) - Having been neglected for many years, native pepper plants in Binh Que commune (Thang Binh district) are being restored and developed in a commodity direction, associated with the goal of increasing income from garden economy. From a small-scale model among the people, Binh Que pepper now has a concentrated raw material area, organized purchasing, an initial brand and is recognized as an OCOP product at the provincial level.

The Binh Que native pepper tree has been replicated by local people for many years. Photo: PHAN VINH

Developing new models

Mr. Nguyen Man's family (Binh Hoi village) is one of the few households in Binh Que commune that has preserved local pepper varieties for many years and continues to expand them into a stable production model. With more than 200 pepper pillars in operation, each year harvesting about 200-250kg of dry pepper, Mr. Man said that pepper plants have a long growth cycle, are suitable for the dry soil conditions in the locality and do not require too much care costs.

Mr. Man said that the pepper variety from the midlands is very suitable for the soil in Binh Que. Photo: PHAN VINH

“We grow pepper from the seeds that our ancestors brought back from the midlands of Tien Phuoc. Before, we mainly did it to preserve the seeds and use them for our family, without thinking about the economy . But when the locality had a policy to develop the growing area and the cooperative took over the purchasing, we started to consider investing more seriously. The price is stable, the output is clear, so people feel more secure,” said Mr. Man.

[ VIDEO ] - Mr. Nguyen Man shares about his pepper garden and the changes after cooperating with Binh Que Cooperative:

From a few households maintaining small varieties, the whole commune now has about 50 households growing pepper, of which more than 25 households cultivate on a scale of 80 pillars or more, concentrated in the villages of Binh Hoi, Binh Quang and Binh Phung. The total dry pepper output of the whole commune is about 3 tons/year, with a common purchase price of 180 - 200 thousand VND/kg, creating a stable source of income for the people.

Binh Que pepper has small seeds but is fragrant and spicy. Photo: PHAN VINH

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Tien - Vice Chairman of Binh Que Commune People's Committee, pepper is identified as one of the native plant varieties suitable for renovating mixed gardens, increasing land use efficiency and creating high-value agricultural products.

Binh Que pepper has a characteristic flavor and good grain quality, suitable for building OCOP products and developing in the direction of local brands. The tree is easy to care for, can be exploited for many years, investing once but harvesting for many years, so the results are clear.

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Currently, Binh Que is continuing to mobilize people to renovate mixed gardens by planting pepper with coconut and fruit trees, in order to form a large-scale production area, meeting the requirements of quality and output when expanding the market.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Tien - Vice Chairman of Binh Que Commune People's Committee

Expanding trade

The recognition of Binh Que pepper as a 3-star provincial OCOP product in 2024 is considered an important step, marking the process of standardizing production, reorganizing output and building a brand for this native crop.

The key unit in implementing the value chain is Binh Que Agricultural Service Cooperative (Binh Que Cooperative), with the role of both purchasing products and organizing preliminary processing, packaging, and developing brand identity.

The product "Pepper - Binh Que specialty" is recognized as 3-star OCOP. Photo: PHAN VINH

According to Mr. Thai Hoang Duy Em - Director of Binh Que Cooperative, the product "Pepper - Binh Que specialty" is currently packaged in 250g zip bags, with traceability stamps, retail price is about 80 thousand VND/package. Each year, the Cooperative purchases about 500kg of dry pepper, processes it into dried finished products, mainly consumed at OCOP fairs, local product introduction points and traditional markets.

[VIDEO] - Mr. Thai Hoang Duy Em - Director of Binh Que Cooperative shared the reasons for developing the Binh Que pepper brand:

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The important thing here is that the model does not stop at the consumption stage but moves towards forming a standard raw material area, guiding farmers to cultivate organically, with clear traceability, ensuring consistent quality. We are also redoing the entire brand identity, connecting with more markets outside the province to increase product value.

Mr. Thai Hoang Duy Em - Director of Binh Que Cooperative

In addition, Binh Que Cooperative is also coordinating with the agricultural sector and consulting units to complete product upgrade dossiers, and at the same time participate in trade promotion programs, connecting markets with businesses inside and outside the province.

Some proposals on seed support, upgrading irrigation systems, soil improvement, and training in clean farming processes have been developed by the People's Committee of Binh Que commune and sent to higher levels to have appropriate support policies for pepper producing households.

Binh Que pepper products appear at fairs displaying and exhibiting local OCOP products. Photo: Binh Que Cooperative

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Tien, in 2025, Binh Que commune aims to expand new pepper growing areas, increase the number of households participating in the cooperative to 15 households and aim for dry pepper output of over 4 tons/year. At the same time, packaged pepper products will have standardized packaging, labels, and product specifications to serve both the e-commerce market and OCOP store systems in the region.

[VIDEO] - Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Tien - Vice Chairman of Binh Que Commune People's Committee shared the development orientation of native pepper plants:

“If we cannot build a clear raw material area, it will be difficult to expand the product’s output. We carefully organize production and monitor quality so that Binh Que pepper is not only a local agricultural product, but also a truly competitive brand.

Lessons from other OCOP models show that only when products escape the role of raw goods and participate in organized value chains can they develop in the long term," Ms. Tien affirmed.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/xay-dung-chuoi-gia-tri-cho-cay-tieu-binh-que-3153616.html