Dak Song District, long regarded as the “pepper capital” of Dak Nong Province, is rolling out a Sustainable Pepper Landscape Program to help farmers regain the prosperity once brought by black pepper cultivation.
From Rapid Growth to Decline
Table of Contents
In past years, Dak Song earned a reputation for its billionaire pepper communes, where soaring pepper prices made many growers wealthy. Yet that prosperity did not last.
When prices spiked, farmers expanded plantations without proper planning or disease management—particularly against quick wilt and slow wilt. As a result, yields and plant lifespans fell sharply. Many once-wealthy growers were eventually forced to sell land and houses to pay off debts.
Untapped Potential, Low Certified Output
Today the district still maintains over 13,600 hectares of pepper, but only about 2,300 hectares are certified:
-
178 hectares meet VietGAP standards.
-
352 hectares are certified organic to international standards.
-
150 hectares are certified organic under Vietnamese standards.
Despite its natural advantages, outdated cultivation methods, low-quality seedlings and incomplete disease-control practices have prevented Dak Song’s pepper from achieving high market value.
Sustainable Pepper Landscape Program
To overcome these challenges, the IDH Sustainable Trade Initiative Vietnam has partnered with the Vietnam Pepper Association (VPA), the European Spice Association, and the Dak Song People’s Committee to launch the Sustainable Pepper Landscape Program.
The program focuses on:
-
Farmer training in sustainable, high-tech cultivation,
-
Raising awareness of landscape-based production, and
-
Supporting responsible use of agricultural chemicals.
Its long-term goal is to increase the share of Dak Song pepper that meets international export standards, helping the district reclaim its reputation as Vietnam’s leading pepper-growing region.
Stakeholders Commit to Action
-
Mac Tuyet Nga, Director of the IDH Vietnam Spice Program, pledged IDH’s support in helping farmers adopt landscape-based pepper production.
-
Le Viet Anh, Chief of the Vietnam Pepper Association Office, confirmed that the association will carry out specific activities to ensure project success.
-
Vo Quoc Tuan, Vice Chairman of the Dak Song District People’s Committee, said the local government will continue to mobilize individuals, organizations, and businesses to build a large-scale, high-quality, sustainable pepper production area for both domestic and export markets.
Outlook: Restoring the “Pepper Capital”
With joint support from local authorities, international organizations and industry associations, Dak Song aims to revitalize its pepper industry, improve export quality, and once again earn the title of Vietnam’s “pepper capital.”