Rantau, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Hiyung Village in Tapin Tengah, Tapin District, south Kalimantan, developing an innovation by planting Hiyung bird's eye chili on floating platforms as a solution for farmers who have difficulties planting crops during rainy season due to waterlogged land.
Chief of Hiyung chili farmers group, Junaidi, here on Friday said this innovation involved local young farmers using bamboo as the main medium.
"The bamboo was made into rafts (locally known as lanting), then we added a little soil on top to be then planted with Hiyung chili seeds," he said.
Eight farmers were deployed to complete 30 lantings during a week. The lanting making process started on Tuesday (January 7, 2025).
"The planting process only takes two days. One lanting can be planted with 90 chili seeds. If there are 30 lantings the total is 2,700 Hiyung chili seeds," he said.
Read also: Tapin develops up and down stream Hiyung chili industry
If calculated, the 30 lantings with a total of 2,700 trees are equivalent to more than a half hectare.
Junaidi admitted that the innovation was born from an urgent need during the rainy season. Farmers in Hiyung Village often cannot grow chilies, so supply of Hiyung chilies was empty on the market.
"With the floating methode, we are sure that the needs of Hiyung chili can be met throughout the year, including during the rainy season," he said.
Head of Tapin Agriculture Office Tri Asmoro considered that floating chili methode has a great potential, but still requires further study.
"We will evaluate financing and profit with farmers," he said.
He said if it is proven to be successful and profitable, the Agriculture Office is ready to provide assistance to support this methode in the future.
Read also: Tapin targets Saudi, Japan, Spain for Hiyung chili export
