Fresh Chili Agribusiness: Opportunities and Problems in Indonesia

The National Socioeconomic Survey (SUSENAS) conducted in Indonesia in September 2021 found that the average consumption of red chili per month was 0.15 kilograms (kg) per capita per month. The average consumption of fresh chili per month is 40.90 thousand tons, and the cumulative total reached 490.83 thousand tons in 2021. Uneven chili production across time and region makes prices fluctuate, which affects inflation by 0.01–0.07%. Another problem is the imbalance of supply and demand between time and region, which impacts farmers’ welfare. Setting planting time and location and improving distribution can solve these problems. The application of technology that can extend the life of fresh chilies for one month is a solution for chili distribution from farmers to areas with high demand. One-wave roasting and drying technology can extend chilies’ freshness for six months. By producing chilies that have a shelf life of more than three months, it is possible to store them in warehouses using the warehouse receipt system. The application of the warehouse receipt system to chili commodities is also an alternative to solving postharvest problems. The distribution and application of technology that can extend the life of chili can increase its economic value and make chili not a commodity that contributes to Indonesian inflation

Kinetika Pengeringan Lapisan Tipis Daun Jati Belanda (Thin Layer Drying Kinetics of Guazuma Ulmifolia Leaves)

The objectives of this study were to determine a suitable thin layer drying model to describe the drying kinetics of Guazuma ulmifolia leaves and determine the mass transfer parameters of Guazuma ulmifolia leaves. The drying of Guazuma ulmifolia leaves was conducted in a laboratory scale dryer with various temperature (40oC, 50oC, and 60oC) and relative humidity (30%, 40%, 50% and 60%). Five drying models, namely, Newton, Henderson and Pabis, Page, Midilli-Kucuk, and Verma et al. were fitted to the drying data. The drying curve of guazuma leaves did not show a constant drying period during the drying period. The models suitability were compared base on coefficient of determination (R2), root square mean errors (RSME), and reduced mean square of deviation (X2). It was found that, among the models evaluated, the Midilli and Kucuk model is the best to describe the drying kinetics of Guazuma ulmifolia leaves. The effective moisture diffusivity was found to be in the range of 10-13 – 10-12 m2/s and the convective mass transfer coefficient was in the range of 10-9 – 10-10 m/s. The activation energy value was found to be 89.21 kJ/mol

The Flow Rate of the Condenser Cooling Water in the Distillation Process Increases the Quality and Quantity of Patchouli Oil

Indonesia is an important essential oil-exporting country globally, where 40 types of essential oils have been traded on the international market and are products of Indonesia. However, the quality and quantity of patchouli oil produced in Indonesia are still low. Most essential oil processing units use simple or traditional technology and generally have limited production capacity. This study aimed to obtain the optimum water flow rate in a condenser system for patchouli oil production in Maluku, Indonesia. Patchouli oil extraction from fresh patchouli leaves and twigs was carried out by increasing the condenser water discharge rate. Patchouli oil extraction with a condenser cooling water discharge treatment of 1.74 L/min and drying time for 5 days produced the highest patchouli oil yield of 1.4%. The greater the condenser water discharge rate, the better the yield and accumulation of patchouli oil recovery obtained. In addition, based on the results of the analysis of the composition of patchouli oil compounds with GCMS, it can be seen that 13 compounds can be detected in patchouli oil. The three main components of patchouli oil in all condenser cooling water treatments were alpha-guaiene, delta-guaiene, and patchouli alcohol. Considering the results of all parameters mentioned above, the treatment of the condenser cooling water discharge of 1.74 L/min and drying time for 5 days increases the quality and quantity of patchouli oil