IPB Discovers Chili that Can Produce High Yield
The research team of Agronomy and Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), has multiplied the hybrid seed of chili, IPB CH3, one of the superior chilies already allowed by the government and released to the public since October 2010. The IPB team is also investigating a new non-hybrid type of superior chili. "Late in 2011, we expect o be able to release a new variety," said Dr. M Syukur, a lecturer of the Agronomy and Horticulture Department of IPB, Monday (10 / 1).
Dr. M. Syukur and four colleagues, Prof. Dr. Sriani Sujiprihati, Dr. Rahmi, Dr. Widodo, and Dr. Hendrastuti, have been doing research on chili since 2003. There are 11 superior types of chili discovered by the IPB team. Four types are in the approval process for release to the public from the government and one type, namely IPB CH3, has received official permission for release. Dr. Syukur said that IPB CH3 is the type of hybrid chili. Its excellent features are large fruit with a length of 14 -17 cm, a hot taste twice as much as that of the usual big red chili, the flowering period of less than three months to bear fruit and one tree can produce one kilogram of fruit or about 15 tons per hectare.
"The need for chili from year to year will increase along with the population growth and the Indonesian people’s pattern of consuming fresh chilies. Often people make rice and chili sauce as the last resort of food security, so superior chilies are needed to meet the demand for chili," said Prof. Sriani Sujiprihati. Now IPB is trying to multiply the superior seeds of chilies.
That is why, Prof. Sriani said further, IPB is developing a research of non-hybrid chili so that it is enough for farmers to buy the chili seeds once, and then they can make their own seeds from their chili trees. This will help reduce the cost of production.
Dr. Syukur added that dried chili can actually be an alternative to prevent the shortage of this commodity because its availability is more secured. Dried chili has the same hot qualities as the fresh chilies commonly consumed by the people. “Why don’t we use dried chili as they do in Malaysia and Singapore? It can also prevent overpriced chili and the community is still able to eat chili,” said Dr. Gratitude.
He explained that the use of dried chili is not yet a common practice of Indonesian people; they more often eat it fresh. The high level of consumption in the society makes fresh chili an important vegetable crop of high economic value in Indonesia. He mentioned there are several reasons for chili to be an important commodity; for example, its growing area is the highest position compared with that of other vegetables. "About 20 percent of the total planting area of other vegetables," said Dr. Syukur. (mtd)
