IMPROVED TECHNOLOGIES FOR CHILI CULTIVATION IN CENTRAL JAVA,

INDONESIA: FARMERS’ PERCEPTION AND IMPACTS*

J. Mariyono1, M. Bhattarai2, R. Suherman3

1 AVRDC-The World Vegetable Centre, Project Office, Tegal, Indonesia, mrjoko28@gmail.com

2AVRDC-The World Vegetable Centre, Shanhua, Tainan, Taiwan, madhu.bhattarai@worldveg.org

3 Indonesian Vegetable Research Institute, Lembang, Bandung, Indonesia, rsuherman_12@yahoo.com

This study evaluates and assesses improved production technologies on chili introduced in

Central Java province of Indonesia. Chili (Capsicum annum) is one of the most important

cash crops in Indonesia. Within Indonesia, Central Java is largest chili-producing province

and more than 50% of its production is concentrated in regions of Brebes and Magelang. Chili

cultivation practices followed in Magelang is different from that of Brebes resulting due to

different soil types and water control measures followed. Current chili farming practices in

both regions tend to be less sustainable because of high level of agrochemicals use. In

Magelang, a package of technologies, consisting of border plantings of Crotalaria sp., and

application of botanical pesticides, was targeted for reducing incidence of whitefly

transmitted geminiviruses (WTG), which is the most important disease in chili farming. In

Brebes, a package of technologies consisting of compost, rice straw mulching and bio-

pesticides was targeted to address soil (and water) borne diseases such as Phytophthora wilt.

Such technologies have been introduced to eight farmers’ groups (four in each site) led by

“farmer innovators and early adopters”. During a cropping season of chili, the farmers groups

were actively involved in conducting field trials, guided by a team of researchers. Following

the field trials, farmers applied and assessed the technologies on their own lands. This study is

based on the perception of such farmers. The results show that farmers were impressed with

the technologies. After applying the technologies, farmers in Magelang and Brebes could

reduce synthetic pesticides by around 18% and 8% respectively. In Brebes, the technology

was able to substitute 20% of inorganic fertilizers with compost. The productivity increased

by 15% in Magelang and 20% in Brebes, and importantly, the economic return in both

regions increased by 20%. Farmers convinced that the technologies would be adopted widely

by other farmers in the communities because the technologies do not conflict with local

norms, and are easily observable and transferable to other farmers. Materials supporting the

technologies are locally accessible and available.

*) Paper abstract accepted for oral presentation at ISHS conference on “Sustainable vegetable production in South East Asia” 14 - 17 March 2011, Salatiga, Central Java, Indonesia. The full paper (draft) is available from the first and second authors, upon request.