VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam exported 101,000 tonnes of pepper, earning $148 million in the first eight months of this year, almost equal to its total pepper export earnings last year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Do Ha Nam, President of the Vietnam Pepper Association (VPA), said that Vietnam was considered as the world's most dynamic pepper supplier with an excellent product quality at competitive prices. Vietnam's pepper has been exported to nearly 80 countries and territories, and accounts for half of the world pepper output.

Foreign experts said that Vietnamese pepper is number one in the world market. Pepper supplied by Vietnam plays an important role in a number of major markets, meeting 33 percent of the US market's demand and 40 percent of the EU market's demand. Recently, a Japan business invested in building a factory in Vietnam to process pepper for export to Japan.

Nam said that pepper was now one of Vietnam's main export farm produce staples. In recent years, many businesses have invested in modern production lines to produce safe and good pepper, thus helping increase the value of the pepper export. Farmers have also improved equipment for gathering and protecting pepper to ensure the quality.

He said that the pepper price would remain stable at a high level and could rise in coming years.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development plans to keep the national pepper area of cultivation at about 50,000 ha and the pepper output at 100,000 tonnes a year. Cooperation between the State, businesses, farmers and scientists will be promoted in order to help pepper growers increase their yield and quality, and reduce production costs to improve the competitiveness of their product.

(Source: VNA)