Extreme heat and prolonged drought in 2024 have led to a drastic decline in Kampot pepper production, with this year’s harvest witnessing a 60-70% drop compared to 2023, according to Nguon Lay, president of the Kampot Pepper Promotion Association (KPPA).

"Kampot Pepper", which was registered as a Geographical Indication (GI) product by the Ministry of Commerce in April 2010, has gained access to larger markets and fetches higher prices than regular pepper. The annual harvest typically occurs between January and July, depending on weather conditions.

Lay told The Post on December 27 that extreme weather conditions had caused some pepper plants to die and significantly reduced yields from others. In 2024, the harvest totalled just 30-40 tonnes, compared to 120-130 in 2023.

“The weather factors have caused the Kampot pepper yield to drop significantly this year, but orders are still coming in regularly. The only problem is that we don’t have enough supply to meet the demand,” he said.

Lay explained that, in addition to climate-related challenges, the decline in yield was also due to reduced land allocated to cultivation and a decrease in labour.

He said the province previously had about 290 hectares of pepper plantations managed by 460 farming families. However, he noted this has now shrunk to 240 hectares, with only 200 families remaining. On average, one hectare yields around 2,500 pepper vines.

“Pepper plantations in Kampot province do not have the same preservation practices as salt farms, where each landowner can buy, sell or convert the land to other uses,” he added.

Lay noted that Kampot pepper prices had remained steady for nearly a decade, with black pepper priced at $15 per kilogramme, red at $25 and white at $28. However, in 2024, prices have increased slightly, with black pepper now at $18, red at $28 and white at $31.

He stressed that despite the price increase, declining yields continue to be a major concern due to climate change, prompting many farmers to abandon pepper cultivation altogether.

“The weather has caused some landowners to switch to other businesses because they don’t want to invest money into replanting pepper,” he said.

It takes three years for a pepper plant to produce fruit after planting. Factoring in the costs of seedlings, stakes and maintenance, each plant costs around $50 to cultivate.

Kampot pepper farmer Pov Phat, who owns over 300 pepper vines, also reported significant losses due to the harsh weather in 2024.

“The yield of Kampot pepper in 2024 has dropped significantly compared to 2023, and it may decline further in 2025 because fewer farmers are planting pepper now,” he remarked.