Czech-Cambodian firm EU Land and Pepper Investment Co Ltd has vowed to buy 50 per cent of all produce cultivated by its contracted smallholder growers this year to ramp up exports, with the European market in its sights.

CEO David Pavel told The Post that since its 2018 beginnings, his company focuses purely on helping the growers of Kampot pepper with the smallest, least viable farms and who are unable to market themselves.

He said: “We do not own any farm for that reason. We set up our own private company in Cambodia back in 2018 to be able to help farmers and buy their Kampot Pepper for [a] 100 per cent fair trade price which is paid always directly to their hands.”

After buying, the company is responsible for each step of the process – logistics, paperwork, export, quality control and packaging, he said.

He said the company is working very closely with the main trade body Kampot Pepper Promotion Association (KPPA).

“We commit to buying 50 per cent of all production from our smallest farmers in 2021. Next year and for upcoming years we want to [increase that to] 100 per cent of their production. This [is] all only after three years of the existence of our project,” Pavel said.

Around 175 Kampot-pepper farm households have entered into contract farming agreements to supply EU Land and Pepper Investment with 10 tonnes of peppercorns for the 2021 harvest season.

KPPA president Nguon Lay told The Post on February 7 that the ministry’s assistance would help provide Kampot pepper a strong market in the international scene.

“More feedback gives growers more hope. The Ministry of Commerce will help prepare a 2021-2023 strategy for Kampot pepper,” he said.

He said 42 companies have entered contract farming with small-scale Kampot pepper farmers for the 2021 harvest season.

Cambodia exported more than 70 tonnes of Kampot pepper to the international market last year, he said, adding that the crop is shipped out to more than 50 countries today, mostly those in Europe.

According to Pavel, the company focuses on “completely different” and new innovative marketing strategies that have a direct impact on sales and export.http://https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/czech-firm-ramps-pepper-orders