What happens to chili farmers in Kupang who have been attacked by a mysterious pest for three years

This plant pest, which resembles a psyllid, attacks chili plants in Fatukoa and Naioni Villages, Kupang City, NTT.

KORNELIS KEWA AMA

Large chili fruits belonging to farmers rot and fall before harvest time after being attacked by grasshopper pests in Fatukoa Village, Kupang City, NTT, on Monday (5/6/2024). This type of pest has been attacking chili plants for three years, but local farmers have not been able to overcome it.

Chili farmers in Fatukoa Village, Kupang City, East Nusa Tenggara, are worried. Since the last three years, cultivated chilies have always been attacked by types of pests whose types and forms are difficult to monitor. This psyllid-like pest costs farmers hundreds of millions of rupiah.

Due to the pest attack, the chili leaves turned reddish-brown. The damaged leaves caused the fruits to continuously fall off before harvest time. The loss to the farmers is unavoidable.

Integrated farmer, Daniel Aluman (55), sat watching the chili plants being attacked by pests in his 2-hectare garden in Fatukoa Village, Kupang City, on Monday (6/5/2024). A feeling of disappointment and sadness enveloped the farmer who had been in the agricultural field for 42 years.

"I call this pest magical because every time we spray pesticides, it reappears after 2-3 days. It just keeps happening. This type of pest is like a flea, only visible at 07:00 Wita and then observed again at 17:00 Wita. They appear only when the air is cool. When the sun is scorching, they disappear to where, I don't know," said Aluman.

Symptoms of pest attack are visible, where the leaves turn reddish-brown. If not immediately sprayed, the leaves will fall off, followed by the fruit. Therefore, every week, 2-3 pesticide sprays are carried out. Spraying is only done in the morning and afternoon when the insects appear.

Also read: Daniel Aluman, Success Story of Integrated Farmers in Kupang City

KORNELIS KEWA AMA

Daniel Aluman (55), an integrated farmer in Fatukoa Village, Kupang City, NTT, among chili plants that are infested with "flea hoppers." A 2-hectare chili field is at risk of crop failure due to the pest infestation.

However, spraying does not make pests die or disappear forever. They reappear within 3-4 days. It is unclear whether the pests escaped and came back or if the ones that appear again are their offspring. When they gather on plants, the shape of the pest becomes visible.

The impact of the pests is a drastic decrease in chili production. Previously, one bed with a length of 25 meters and a width of 50 centimeters could yield 15 kilograms and be harvested up to 20 times, but now only 3 kilograms or one harvest.

Several members of agricultural extension workers from the Kupang City Government came to see the pest, but they didn't understand it either.

Aluman owns 2 hectares of land for cultivating chili peppers, including the large type, curly type, and bird's eye type. Within a year, he can do three planting cycles, with each cycle lasting for three months. Due to pest attacks, he suffers losses of up to hundreds of millions rupiah every planting season.

"I estimate IDR 250 million per planting season," he said.

He admitted that during his 42 years as a farmer, he only encountered that type of pest in the last three years. Some agricultural counselors from the Kupang City Government witnessed the pest, but they also did not understand it. Officials suggested spraying with commonly used pesticides.

This type of pest only attacks chili plants. Tomato plants and others are still safe. Specifically for chili plants, every week they need to be sprayed with pesticides 3-4 times. The spraying process must also be slow, with a gentle water flow system. If not, chili leaves and small fruit will fall off.

Also read: Kupang Students' Dreams During an Internship on a Successful Farmer's Land

KORNELIS KEWA AMA

Agustinus Ndapamerang (21), an intern from Politani Kupang, NTT, on Monday (6/5/2024), was spraying pesticides on chili plants to ward off flea pests. Agus has been trained on how to spray to prevent chili leaves and fruits from falling off easily. 20 Politani Kupang students are currently interning at Aluman's farmland.

The price of pesticide is IDR 80,000 per 100 cc for 56 liters of water and IDR 200,000 for 350 cc for 400 liters of spray water. Apart from that, paying attention to chili plants also takes extra time and energy. He had to employ local residents to spray the chilies, after they had been specially trained in spraying procedures.

The costs that farmers have to bear are not commensurate with their income from crops damaged by pests.

Large chili peppers and curly chili peppers are sold to each trader for Rp 25,000 per kg. Traders then sell them for Rp 50,000 per kg. Meanwhile, bird's eye chili peppers are sold for Rp 55,000 per kg, with traders selling it to consumers for Rp 80,000 per kg.

"The farmers only managed to recover their capital and earn a small profit. To ensure it can be sold, the farmers plan to plant a different type of crop again," said Aluman.

Joni Tamael (38), a horticultural farmer in Naioni Sub-district, neighboring Fatukoa Sub-district, said that he has not been planting chili for the past two years since experiencing a failed harvest for a year. Chili pest attacks are very difficult to eradicate.

Other plants are not attacked by the pests. The type of pest is not flea, which can damage all types of plants, as assessed by the speaker.

"Flea can disappear forever if sprayed with pesticides, but this type of pest does not want to leave or die. It has been reported to agricultural extension officers who came to the site. There were three people, one woman and two men. I don't know if they are from the Kupang city government or the province," said Tamael.

Also read: Cultivation of Horticultural Plants, Mainstay of Kupang Farmers

KORNELIS KEWA AMA

Daniel Aluman (55), an integrated farmer in Kupang City, picked ripe tomatoes for his lunch salad on Monday (6/5/2024) in an area of 2,000 square meters, from a total land of 6 hectares that he owns.

Ayup Suni (44), a dryland farmer in Naioni Village, Kupang City, said that his chili plants were also attacked by similar pests. However, he didn't make a big deal out of it. The cayenne pepper planted was just for daily consumption by family members. The process of planting the chili was also not as complicated as that done by horticulture farmers.

He admits to just planting chili seeds in dry land, during the rainy season. He did not do any breeding. Ayup Suni also did not focus on planting chili because it is not favored by children and other family members in the household.

"Just throw it away, the soil that processes growth until it bears fruit," he said.

NTT Department of Agriculture staff member Sulistiowaty stated that there haven't been any reports on chili pests attacking every district/city in NTT, including Kupang City. It's possible that farmers or local authorities haven't reported to the local agriculture department yet.

During this time, field agricultural extension officers continue to visit and provide assistance to each farmer group.

"The visit of extension officers is directed towards farming groups, not individual farmers. It is possible for individuals to receive visits if they are considered successful and have established partnerships with the local agriculture department. However, it is clear that officers continue to monitor the field. If there are cases of plant pests attacking, they will be addressed promptly," he said.

Also read: NTT Farmers' Spirit Drowns at Raindrop Limit

KORNELIS KEWA AMA

On Monday (6/5/2024), rice plants on a 3-hectare land owned by Aluman in Fatukoa Village, Kupang City, East Nusa Tenggara, began to turn yellow. The 6-hectare land is planted with rice, tomatoes, chili peppers, and eggplants. Aluman also raises pigs, cows, and freshwater fish. Horticultural plants are rotated according to the needs of the Kupang market.