The event was co-hosted by the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH), theEuropean Union (EU) Delegation to Vietnam, the Ministry of Agriculture andRural Development’s Plant Protection Department and the Vietnam Pepper Association.
In her opening statement, Director of the IDHVietnam Programme Phan Thi Van said the Central Highlands accounts for around60% of the country's pepper cultivation area with over 70,000 ha. In recentyears, the Vietnamese pepper industry has struggled with global competitivenessin terms of quality and prices, impacting the livelihoods of local pepperfarmers. It is attributable to the improper use of agricultural chemicals,unsustainable farming practices, and a lack of updates on trends and new marketrequirements.
Funded by the EUand the IDH, the project is carried out from 2021-2023 in the provinces of DakLak, Dak Nong and Gia Lai in order to help Vietnam reap the benefits ofbilateral trade commitments and boost the export of quality products andservices to the EU.
Through theproject, nearly 8,000 farmers have improved their knowledge and green agriculturalpractices over an area of 8,500ha. Over the course of three years, the projecthas achieved several outcomes, such as a 60% increase in the volume of pepperseeds adhering to the residue requirements of the premium market; 50% ofpesticide dealers committing to comply with pesticide management regulations; a98% reduction in the use of banned pesticides, among others.
From November 19-20,representatives from the EU Delegation to Vietnam, the IDH and other partnersvisited the project area in Cu M'Gar district and a pepper processing plant in Dak Lak./.