Kotabaru farmers develop chilli in oil palm plantation

Kotabaru, South Kalimantan 1/4 (AntaranewsKalsel) - Farmers in Kotabaru district began developing chilli using intercropping systems with oil palm plant .

Pembelacanan Village Head, Sub-district of South Kelumpang, Wardi said on Saturday that the high price of chili lately makes farmers eager to plant chili, both in pots and take advantage of their yards and gardens.

"To maximize the yields in one area now most farmers grow chili on the sidelines of oil palm plantations," he said.

Many benefits can be obtained by farmers by developing chilli plants in between oil palm. No new land need for cultivation, save cost of land clearing, because the land is in pristine condition, and lack of maintenance costs for cleaning the grass and weeds.

It also saves fertilizer costs, because the land has been planted with oil palm relatively in fertile condition. In general, farmers routinely fertilize oil palm.

Previously, the Kotabaru Family Welfare Movement (PKK) distributed 1,250 chilli seeds as part of efforts to realize food self-sufficiency.

Vice Chairman of PKK Kotabaru Siti Mariani Burhanuddin said the chilli seeds distribution also to support government programs, particularly the Minister of Agriculture who launched a movement of planting 50 million of chili in Indonesia.

"Through home gardens, schools, offices and other buildings, we seek to realize food self-sufficiency, especially the various spices, such as chili, which is a source of inflation in Indonesia," she said.