Penajam farmers' small chilli production reaches 1,680 tonnes per year

Small chilli, also known as rawit, produced by farmers in Penajam Paser Utara Regency, East Kalimantan Province, has been recorded at 1,680 tonnes per year, able to meet the needs or demand of residents in the district.

‘The production of local farmers’ rawit chilli is already adequate to meet the needs of the community in the district,’ said Gunawan, Head of the Food Plant and Horticulture Crops Division of the Penajam Paser Utara Regency Agriculture Service, on Saturday (7 March) when asked about Penajam’s chilli farmers. ‘The plants are, however, susceptible to diseases that can cause crop failure during the rainy season,’ he added.

Thus agricultural extension officers from the Penajam Paser Utara Regency Agriculture Service intensively assisted in prevention and management of pests that threaten the survival of the small chilli plants.

The Penajam Paser Utara Agriculture Service aims for a production yield of 754 tonnes per year of rawit, he clarified, but actual production by farmers remains at 1,680 tonnes per year.

The small chilli production has exceeded community needs and a surplus has emerged, with production rising as many Penajam Paser Utara farmers have started planting rawit chillies in recent years.

On average, the yield from the small chilli crop is 47 tonnes per month, while the community’s need is around 35 tonnes per month, he said, so local chilli production is sufficient to meet demand.

It is thus ensured that the supply of rawit chilli will be secure until Idul Fitri 1447 Hijriah, because farmers’ harvests are stable and able to meet market needs, Gunawan said.

The price of small chillies in Penajam Paser Utara briefly rose to Rp120,000 per kilogram, gradually declined to Rp80,000 per kilogram, and is now Rp65,000 per kilogram in the market.