Indonesian Crop Survey.
Pepper Crop Situation in Lampung
Being known as the origin of black pepper in Indonesia, pepper in Lampung is cultivated in all 15 districts, totaling an approximate of 45,742 Ha with concentration area being East and North Lampung and Tanggamus district. Whilst other districts cultivated pepper in a smaller scale.
As unfavorable price continues to progress these past years, many farmers has applied intercropping to make ends meet. Many farmers in Lampung chose to intercrop with coffee, cocoa and banana.
In the past two years, favorable weather condition has resulted in good crop and yield in most districts.
Considered as the symbol of Lampung, farmers still feel the pride of cultivating pepper despite the current unfavorable price.
Therefore, many farmers still tried to maintain their pepper crop as best as their economy allows them.
As pepper farmers in Lampung mostly traditional farmers, they still prefer compost fertilizers.
Crop Situation in Lampung by District
North Lampung
Condition of pepper gardens in North Lampung has changed quite significantly this past year.
Area of pepper cultivation in Ogan Lima, Cahaya Negeri, PulauPanggung had slightly dropped due to the fact some areas had been converted to other crops for intercropping which is more profitable and some areas were lost due to diseases,
During the crop survey unhealthy vines were frequently found and farmers were found trying to stop the spreading of the disease by cutting down the infected vines.
However, many rehabilitated pepper gardens were also found during our survey.
Currently farmers are still picking their crops and it would continue to the beginning of August.
Despite the spreading of diseases and converted crops, good weather condition has resulted in good production this year which is confirmed to be better than 2018.
East Lampung
In the past few years, East Lampung has surfaced as the main area of pepper cultivation in Lampung.
Concentration areas of pepper cultivation are MargaTiga, Melinting and Sukadana.
It is observed that most farmers in East Lampung prefer monocropping.
Furthermore, the gardens in East Lampung were better and much more maintained than that of North Lampung.
Significantly less of unhealthy vines were observed in East Lampung though reports of some unhealthy vines come from some farmers but in a smaller scale.
Farmers in East Lampung still continue their nursery programme and East Lampung has become the origins of other districts seeds/shoots distribution programme from the government.
Farmers in East Lampung still keeps a high spirit despite the unfavorable price.
Currently farmers have almost finished picking their berries and continued with drying process.
Farmers and Plantation Official in East Lampung confirmed that this year crop will be better than 2018 as it benefited from the goo d weather condition. Some farmers even projected that 2020 will also bring a good crop.
Tanggamus
Following report of last year, our crop survey went to confirmed reports of pepper in Tanggamus.
District Tanggamus is consisted of 20 sub-districts where Air Naningan and PulauPanggung became the main sub-districts of pepper.
With last year production reaching 2,988 Ton from 5,240 Ha the productivity of pepper crops in Tanggamus district was 570 Kg/Ha.
Upon observing many pepper gardens in Tanggamus, we found that pepper gardens in Tanggamus are well maintained and produces good pepper.
Furthermore, due to its geographical terrain, it was common to find pepper garden on a steep hill.
Farmers in Tanggamus also implemented intercropping system mostly with coffee.
Harvest season in Tanggamus is currently in full swing and to conclude by early August.
It was a very common sight to see farmers drying their pepper in front of their houses.
During our observation we also found some unhealthy vines due to disease and pests.
Many rehabilitated gardens were also encountered. This year crop is confirmed to be better than 2018 as confirmed by most farmers and Plantation Officials of Tanggamus.
Tanggamus Plantation division is currently implementing fertilizer distribution programme to pepper farmers in Tanggamus.
Major Problems
Aside from the common issues of unfavorable price in all districts, many cases of Phytophthora and Yellowing disease were found in some districts.
Many farmers in North Lampung complained on the free seeds/shoots distributed by Local Government as it only grows tall but bear no fruits.
Farmers App
After its launched last July 2018 in Bangka, IPC Farmers App was introduced to Belitung Farmers in a Dissemination and Farmers Training Workshop in February 2019. IPC is currently planning to organize second workshop in collaboration with East Lampung Plantation Division scheduled to be held in September 2019. IPC will continuously organize workshops in other pepper farms regions such as Kalimantan, Sulawesi and many other to increase farmers awareness of the App and also to update farmers so as they could explore the App more efficiently on the market, cultivation practices and many other.
Conclusion
Aside from East Lampung, Tanggamus is confirmed to be another main concentration of pepper. These two districts presented a good and well-maintained garden while North Lampung is currently under-going some rehabilitation of its gardens. East Lampung farmers prefer monocropping whilst other districts implemented intercropping with coffee, cacao and other crops. Backed up by a good weather condition in most districts, this year Lampung is confirmed to produce more than in 2018 as harvest will continue until mid or end of August. Considering the increase in Lampung export of pepper as of May 2019 which amounted to 14%, it is estimated that Lampung's total production will be around 22,000 Mt or more. Projecting an increase by 2,000 Mt as compared to last year figure. Pepper export from Lampung as of May 2019 amounted to 4,501 Mt.
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