Chili double fold production technology as promising innovation for increasing farmer income in Gorontalo, Indonesia

Abstract

Increasing production and income of chili farmers requires technological innovation that is both technically and economically efficient. The aims of the study were: 1) to determine the agronomic and financial performance of Chili Double Fold Production (Proliga) technology, 2) to determine the attitudes and perceptions of farmers towards the Chili Proliga technology and the other introduced varieties. The study was conducted in Bone Bolango Regency, Gorontalo Province, Indonesia in 2020. The chili varieties planted were cayenne pepper varieties Prima Agrihorti, and varieties Dewata, large chili varieties Ciko, Tanjung 2 and Inata Agrihorti hybrid. Farming financial was analyzed descriptively by calculating revenue, cost, profit and R/C. Farmers’ attitudes towards Proliga technology used Fishbein’s Multi-attribute Model analysis, and farmer perceptions used Perceptual Mapping. The results showed that the application of chili Proliga technology increased productivity of chili peppers. The results of farm financial analysis showed that chili farming with Proliga technology has an RC ratio of more than 1 which means it was feasible and efficient to implement. The attitude of farmers towards chili Proliga technology was superior when compared to the existing technology, particularly in the attributes of crop performance, productivity, and farming profits compared to the existing technology of farmers.