Gaining added value of chili (Capsicum annum L.) through processing and its challenges: A case in Bandung, West Java

Processing fresh chili into various chili products can generate added value. This study aims to assess the added value gained by processing fresh chili into its products and its challenges. Primary data was obtained through interviews using a structured questionnaire with the management of KWT Intan in Ciwidey, Bandung, which processes fresh chili into dried chili, chili powder, and chili sauce (sambal). This research was conducted in October 2019. Added value was calculated quantitatively using the Hayami method. The results show that the added value generated from processing fresh chili into dried chili is 17,743 IDR/kg, chili powder is 71,053 IDR/kg, and sambal is 326,128 IDR/kg. The results indicate the greatest added value obtained by processing fresh chili into sambal, which is a final product. However, developing the added value of chili products faces some challenges. The utilization of facility assistance and human resource skills is still limited, while consumers still prefer to consume fresh chili than processed ones. In an effort to increase the added value of chili and improve farmers' income, the government is expected to provide relevant regulations and assistance in the form of processing facilities and infrastructure as well as training, socialization, and promotion

Performane and Competitiveness of Indonesian Nutmeg in Export Market

Export is one source of foreign exchange earnings for the country. This study analyzes the competitiveness of Indonesian nutmeg in the world market. Measurement of competitiveness was conducted by looking at the comparative and competitive advantages nutmeg products in each of the main markets for export and comparison with competitors. The analytical method uses Revealed Comparative Advance (RCA) and Export Product Dynamic (EPD) in the period 2014-2018. The competitiveness analysis results show that nutmeg and nutmeg powder products have competitiveness in all export destination markets. Competitor countries, namely India, do not have competitiveness in the Dutch and Japanese markets. The nutmeg commodity has a competitive advantage with the trend and the share of exports that are still growing (fast-growing). However, nutmeg powder is no longer competitive in the export destination market. Active efforts to find new markets through market diversification while maintaining existing markets can be an option to increase Indonesian nutmeg exports

The dynamics of rural transformation, household income, and poverty reduction: Case study in North Sumatra, Indonesia

Rural transformation (RT) is a process in which the agricultural system undergoes transformation towards off-farm, commercial, and market-oriented ones. The research objective is to analyze the dynamics of rural transformation, farmer incomes, and poverty in rural areas in North Sumatra. This study used secondary data from Statistics Indonesia and analyzed using descriptive and tabular methods. The results show that the agricultural structure has shifted over the last two decades from low-value commodities (food crops) to high-value commodities. At the same time, non-farm employment opportunities also showed an increase. The development of high-value commodities and non-farm sectors has also contributed to reducing rural poverty rates. The plantation sub-sector is the highest contributor to agricultural GDP in North Sumatra and tends to increase yearly, in addition to the livestock and horticulture. The non-agricultural industry began to increase and contributed significantly to GDP. Per capita income in 2011-2020 has increased. Poverty depth and severity are still below the national average, meaning that efforts to alleviate poverty have been relatively successful to increase incomes and reduce poverty in rural areas, one of the strategies that need to be taken is to encourage the development of high-value commodities and expand non-agricultural employment opportunities in rural areas

Competitiveness of Indonesia's edible-nest swiftlet exports

Competitiveness is one of the essential factors in increasing exports of agricultural commodities to export markets. Indonesia is a significant producer and exporter of swiftlet nest products globally. This research aims to study Indonesian edible-nest swiftlet competitiveness and development potential in the primary export destination market in the RCEP (the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) area. The study uses secondary export-import data between countries sourced from UN Comtrade from 2009 to 2019. Analyze competitiveness and potential for product development using the RCA, RSCA, EPD, and IIT methods. The study results show that, comparatively, Indonesian swiftlet nests are competitive in China, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Singapore markets and are not competitive in Australia, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. The export markets of China and Vietnam are promising because they have reached the ideal position of a rising star. Meanwhile, the Thai market has the potential to be developed because the export market is still growing. The Singapore market also needs to be considered to create high-value processed products because it has relatively strong integration with the Indonesian swallow nest production structure

Technical efficiency changes of rice farming in the favorable irrigated areas of Indonesia

The main sources of rice production growth are increases in the yield and area harvested. Yield improvement is carried out through intensification, mainly using more inputs and better irrigation, while increasing the harvested area is associated with increasing the cropping intensity. Unfortunately, even in favorable irrigated areas, outcomes of the coupled approach are not always synergistic. This study aims to assess technical efficiency (TE), its changes in direction, and the factors responsible for inefficiency during the last 10 years. The data analyzed were those of rice farming through a panel survey of farmer households in several villages with favorable irrigation. The survey was conducted in 2010, 2016, and 2021. The results showed that the use of higher seed quality and inorganic fertilizers positively affected the yield. The TE level was relatively high but tended to degrade in these 3 years. The farmers’ TE in Java Island was higher than that outside Java. The older the farmer, the more inefficient the farmer was. The number of family members working in rice farming negatively affected efficiency. TE increased as the agricultural contribution to household income increased. On the other hand, the farmers’ educational background did not significantly affect TE. Based on these findings, it is recommended to encourage farmers to adopt higher quality seeds of improved rice varieties. It is also urgent to encourage young farmers to pursue rice farming as their main profession. In the middle and long term, breeding improved rice varieties adapted to climate stress will become a pressing need