Kampot Pepper
PGI and KPPA
2010 marked a watershed in the renaissance of Kampot pepper with the establishment of a PGI (protected geographical indication) label by the Ministry of Trade and the French Development Agency.
Kampot pepper
became the first Cambodian agricultural product to be granted PGI
On 2 April 2010 Kampot Pepper was granted protected geographical indication (PGI) Status. This PGI has been registered in Europe in February 2016.
The PGI requires producers to comply with very strict specifications laying down rules governing production (land, cultivated area, natural fertilizers and natural pesticides), processing, packaging and traceability.
Plantations are controlled by the Kampot Pepper Promotion Association (KPPA) and by the independent certification body EcoCert. Only accredited members of the KPPA, adhering to the PGI criteria, are authorized to sell pepper using the “Kampot Pepper” appellation of origin.
TRADITIONAL PRODUCTION of Pepper plants
propagated by cuttings
To comply with the PGI specifications, two varieties of pepper trees can be planted in the region: Kamchay and Lampong, (big leaves and small leaves). The plants grow rapidly along a 4-metre-tall wooden pole. Attaching the stem of the pepper along the pole using natural filaments made from wood bark is a meticulous task.
FERTILIZATION
The soil is worked daily by the farmers in order to monitor the development and good health of each vine. Depending on the seasons, the work carried out consists of weeding, hoeing, adding fresh soil and natural fertilizer, mainly dried cow dung or bat guano mixed in the soil.
IRRIGATION
Water is very important for pepper plantations. It is essential to install water reservoirs on the plantation in order to collect rain water during the rainy season, from June to October. This can be used to water each pepper vine manually once or twice a week during the dry season.
CONTROL OF INSECTS
To fight against insects or diseases, we have developed our own natural pesticide formula with local roots and plants. This organic potion is sprayed on individual trees only when needed.
CURRENT DEVELOPMENT
Genuine Kampot Pepper production reached over 90 Tons
Today, if you walk in the Kampot and Kep countryside, you will notice the region now boasts several hundred plantations, ranging from family-run plantations, with several hundred poles, to plantations covering more than 20 hectares.
