Tbong Khmum Pepper Heads for German Market
The contract with the Cambodian Pepper and Spice Federation for the dried black pepper was signed on July 18 for supply next year. Photo: Tbong Khmum Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries
- By Chhum Chantha
- July 21, 2023 6:26 PM
PHNOM PENH – Germany’s Fuchs company has agreed to buy 200 tonnes of pepper from farmers in Tbong Khmum province.
The contract with the Cambodian Pepper and Spice Federation for the dried black pepper was signed on July 18 for supply next year.
Heng Piseth, director of the Tbong Khmum Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, said it was great news for farmers to find new markets.
“Farmers who sign contracts with the company will not have to worry about having no market anymore," he said. “This is a big goal for agriculture when I see the farmers have such a market.”
The company requires farmers to follow the Good Agricultural Practices set by the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure consumer safety. The COVID-19 crisis prevented exports despite the German company having agreements with pepper growers in 2019. Pre-booking for 2024 is a test for the company.
About 4,000 pepper farmers cultivate about 3,000 hectares in the province, where 7,000 to 8,000 tonnes of dried pepper can be produced province annually for domestic consumption and export. Currently, a kilo of dried black pepper costs between 12,500 and 13,000 riel, or around $3.
The provincial agriculture department is pushing farmers to practice good agriculture on other crops, especially durian and cashew, to further improve their products.
Originally written in Khmer for ThmeyThmey, this story was translated by Te Chhaysinh for Cambodianess.
