2018, Volume 21, Paper 2

ISSN: 1442-6951

Value Chain Analysis of Memot Pepper in Cambodia

Youssey Lak – Postgraduate student, Centre for Global Food and Resources, University of Adelaide.

Abstract

Pepper is an emerging minor crop in Cambodia, although it has a centuries-long history of cultivation. Memot district in Tbaung Khmum province produces most of Cambodia’s pepper. Over 90 per cent of output is exported illegally to neighbouring Vietnam and Thailand, in unprocessed forms. A study of the domestic value chain indicates that the chain is long with many levels of collectors, that information is lacking on technical knowledge that would help upgrade quality, and that government support of the chain is limited. Some proposed interventions are suggested to stimulate growth of the sector. These include implementing farmer cooperatives in this sector, which should assist in shortening the chain, and applying for geographic indication status, which should stimulate investment in further processing activity.

Key words: Cambodia, value chain analysis, Memot pepper, GI status, cooperatives

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