Empowering Binh Minh Cooperative Through The IPM Project

Vietnam accounts for 55% of the world's pepper production and is the main producer and exporter of pepper globally (Vietnam Pepper and Spice Association, 2022).  However, pepper cultivation has expanded rapidly since pepper prices surged in 2014-2016, impacting the sustainability of the sector in Vietnam. This uncontrolled growth resulted in a lack of proper planning, and farmers, lacking knowledge and experience, resorted to excessive chemical use. In turn, the quality of pepper was negatively impacted, lowering its export value compared to other countries. The oversupply issue also led to a drop in domestic pepper prices, to as low as 34,000 VND/kg in 2020.

Image by ABBPhoto, Envato.

In 2023, global recession following the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing geopolitical conflicts caused high transportation costs, significantly affecting pepper production and consumption. Meanwhile, consumers increasingly demanded higher-quality products, posing a challenge for processing and export companies, which needed to source high-quality, sustainably certified pepper. Small-scale farmers, who lacked proper connections within supply chain, were getting left behind.

Binh Minh Cooperative was established in December 2017 to promote collective economic growth and act as a bridge linking stakeholders in the pepper value chain. However, after its formation, it faced the challenges due to Covid-19, a lack of skilled staff, and farmers' mistrust of cooperatives. Farmers continued unsustainable pepper farming practices, relying heavily on chemicals, which hindered the cooperative’s sustainable development.

However, in early 2023, Binh Minh Cooperative joined Rainforest Alliance’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) project, and began changing for the better through various project activities. Notable changes included:

Training of Trainers: Trainers and technical staff at cooperatives are key to conveying technical information, market trends, and consumer requirements to farmers. If trainers lack sufficient skills, farming techniques may not be effectively communicated to farmers. The IPM project prioritized enhancing the capacity of Binh Minh's trainers.

An IPM training workshop in 2023. Photo by Rainforest Alliance.

In March 2023, in Ho Chi Minh City, 10 technical staff members of the cooperative received training from international experts on teaching skills for adult learners. Equipped with these new skills and their understanding of local farmers' knowledge levels, the trainers developed practical methods and relatable examples to ensure that cultivation techniques were easily understood and applied. Additionally, to standardize technical knowledge, before each farmer training session, Rainforest Alliance experts continued to train the trainers. Throughout the cooperative’s farmer training sessions, Rainforest Alliance sent experts to directly observe and evaluate the training effectiveness and the trainers’ delivery skills.

Changes Among Farmers: In recent years, pesticide residues in exported pepper have been a significant challenge for companies. The main cause is that farmers lack understanding of pepper plant physiology and sustainable farming techniques, resulting in the excessive use of chemicals. Furthermore, in Đắk Nông province, where nearly 40 ethnic groups live, differing languages and cultural barriers have limited the sharing of farming experiences and sustainable techniques.

By the end of October 2024, through the IPM project, six technical training sessions were conducted, with nearly 3,150 farmers attending. After two years of project implementation, farmers have made significant changes in their agricultural practices. Specifically, they shifted their mindset in the following ways:

• Farmers began thinking more about sustainability.

• They prioritized their health.

• They considered the balance of the ecosystem.

These changes in thinking led to concrete actions to improve farming habits:

Studying the physiological characteristics of pepper plants.

• Avoiding the routine use of pesticides.

• Observing and protecting beneficial insects and other biodiversity.

• Managing weeds without using herbicides.

• Using more organic fertilizers and balancing chemical fertilizers.

• Assessing soil conditions and implementing measures to restore soil ecosystems.

• Sharing their experiences with others.

Pepper Purchasing and Quality: With the desire to spread knowledge of integrated pest management among pepper farmers, Binh Minh Cooperative expanded the project across five districts and 13 communes in Đắk Nông province. In 2024, pepper supply became increasingly scarce. Many agents and companies struggled to purchase pepper. However, Binh Minh Cooperative had gained farmers' trust thanks to the IPM project. By October 2024, the cooperative was able to purchase over 138 tons of pepper from IPM farmers, of which 110 tons were Rainforest Alliance certified and 20 tons were not yet certified. All the IPM pepper purchased by the cooperative met European MRL (maximum residue level) standards.

Development of Binh Minh Cooperative: Binh Minh Cooperative, established in December 2017, initially had limited resources (both personnel and finances). Before receiving project support, it had only linked with 88 farmers in Cư Jút district. However, thanks to the IPM project, the cooperative has grown continuously. Currently, it links with over 800 farmers across five districts and 16 communes, covering nearly 1,000 hectares, with an average annual production of over 2,000 tons.

Upcoming Plans: Building on the success of the IPM project, the cooperative plans to:

Collaborate with other cooperatives through organizations such as the Cooperative Alliance and the Farmers’ Association, to share experiences in production and market organization.

• Continue farmer training activities to encourage sustainable farming practices.

• Encourage farmers to study crop characteristics and pest-related issues.

• Reduce chemical use and increase the use of organic fertilizers.

• Continue improving staff capacity and working conditions.

• Work closely with purchasing partners to implement reasonable purchasing and incentive policies.

• Continue seeking support from government organizations and NGOs to expand the cooperative’s activities and increase its impact.