Production of Kampot pepper, the first Cambodian product to obtain geographical indication status, is expected to drop this year due to heavy rains throughout the year, according to producer associations.
Kampot pepper output is forecast at 70 or 75 tonnes in 2018, compared to the 80 tonnes that were produced last year, according to Ngoun Lay, president of the Kampot Pepper Promotion Association.
“There has been many heavy downpours outside of the rainy season, which has damaged pepper farms,” Mr Lay said. “It is really a natural occurrence. Sometimes, farms have high yields, and sometimes they have low yields. It depends on the weather.”
Despite the low output, Mr Lay says members of the association are confident they will be able to observe contracts signed with exporting companies.
