Ba Ria - Vung Tau: Risk of pepper crop failure
Currently, pepper gardens in Ba Ria - Vung Tau are in the fruit growing stage to prepare for the harvest around mid-January 2025.
However, due to the impact of unfavorable weather, pepper flowers fell off, resulting in low fruit set rates and a high risk of crop failure. Many farmers are worried because pepper prices are currently high, around 150,000 VND/kg, so profits will decrease sharply.
At this time, pepper gardens are in the fruit-bearing period. Looking at the percentage of pepper trees bearing fruit, it can be seen that this year's pepper crop yield will decrease sharply. In Xuyen Moc district, many pepper gardens have lush, green leaves, but the fruit-bearing rate is very sparse. Mr. Tran Van Phap in Hamlet 1, Hoa Hung Commune, Xuyen Moc District, has a pepper garden of 1.1 hectares, sharing that if last year his family's pepper garden yielded more than 5 tons, this year the fruit-bearing rate is only about 50% of last year's yield.
According to Mr. Phap, when people were preparing the trees to flower, the weather was harsh and prolonged, and drought caused the trees to stop sprouting and not flower. The trees that did flower fell off in large numbers, causing the fruit set rate on the trees to be very low.
The 3-hectare pepper garden of Mr. Hoang Van Quan's family in Hoa Hiep commune is in a similar situation. Despite being invested in quite systematically and grown organically, the family's pepper yield this season has still decreased sharply due to the adverse effects of the weather. The expected yield is only about 6 tons of fruit, equal to 50% of last year's output.
Meanwhile, pepper prices are high , so the crop failure is a big regret for farmers. After many years of falling pepper prices, pepper gardens have been neglected and not invested in. Now, when pepper prices are high, growers are focusing on taking care of them, but they are facing unfavorable weather and crop failure - Mr. Quan regretfully shared.
In Chau Duc district, the province’s largest pepper growing area, many farmers are facing a similar situation. Mr. Ho Van Thu’s nearly 2-hectare pepper garden, residing in Binh Gia commune, Chau Duc district, also saw a decrease in productivity due to the weather. It is estimated that this pepper crop from Mr. Thu’s garden will yield only 2.5 tons instead of 5 tons like the previous crop.
Mr. Thu said that pepper is a sensitive plant, as unpredictable as the weather, and crop failures often occur. This year's yield is expected to decrease by more than 50%. Mr. Thu said the reason is due to the erratic changes in the weather. This year the rainy season came late, the weather is dry, hot, and the humidity is low, which is not favorable for pepper to bloom.
According to statistics from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the pepper growing area of the province is currently about 10,500 hectares. Although pepper prices have started to increase again since the 2023 crop year, farmers have focused on investing in and caring for pepper plants, but due to the impact of the weather, it is forecasted that this year's pepper crop will have a sharp decrease in output compared to last year.
At the same time, growers need to grasp the market in time to have appropriate investment levels. At the same time, continue to care for and prevent pests and diseases to ensure sustainable development of pepper plants in the following crops. At the same time, people focus on participating in chains linked with businesses to produce clean, high-quality products that can be exported to demanding markets, increasing the value of Ba Ria - Vung Tau pepper.
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