Farmers Still Betting on Pepper
Table of Contents
Although black pepper prices have fallen to 61,000–62,000 VND per kilogram, ethnic minority farmers in Vietnam’s Central Highlands—especially in Đắk Lắk, Đắk Nông and Gia Lai—continue to plant pepper on a large scale.
In 2017 alone, these provinces added over 16,200 hectares of new pepper fields. Đắk Lắk led the expansion with more than 5,500 hectares planted in a single year.
Why They Keep Planting
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Higher potential profit: Farmers say that even at current prices, black pepper still yields far better returns than long-term industrial crops such as coffee or cashew.
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Lower perceived input costs: Some growers believe pepper requires less investment and labor than coffee once established.
For example, Ly Van Suu in Ea H’leo District replaced 2 hectares of aging coffee with pepper. Even with today’s low pepper prices, he expects higher long-term profits than from coffee.
Similarly, Tan Hoang in Ea Toh, Krông Năng cut down over 1 hectare of coffee for pepper. His coffee produced under 2 tons/ha at 36–37 k VND/kg, earning only 72–74 million VND before costs. By contrast, 1 hectare of pepper producing 3 tons/ha at current prices can still net around 100 million VND after expenses.
Risks of Uncontrolled Expansion
Local governments admit they cannot fully control the rapid shift. This unplanned boom creates serious problems:
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Broken crop zoning: Pepper is being planted in areas unsuited to its soil and climate requirements.
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Poor-quality seedlings: Many farmers use unverified planting material, increasing vulnerability to pests and disease.
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Frequent outbreaks: Each year, thousands of hectares of pepper suffer from fast- and slow-wilt diseases, causing major losses.
Regional Pepper Landscape
Today the Central Highlands grow over 85,200 hectares of pepper.
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Đắk Lắk leads with 42,563 hectares,
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followed by Đắk Nông and other neighboring provinces.
Key Takeaway
The Central Highlands’ continuing pepper rush shows that short-term profits still drive farmer decisions, even as prices slump. Without stronger crop planning, improved seed management and integrated disease control, this unchecked growth risks repeating the boom-and-bust cycles that have already hurt the region’s pepper industry.