Tawau can lead in cultivation of cili padi Semerah
Published on: Friday, May 06, 2011
Tawau: Tawau has the potential to become a major producer of the cili padi Semerah, says the Principal Research Officer of the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi), Datin Dr Melor Rejab.Melor said the cili padi Semerah which was developed by Mardi 17 years ago, is the most easiest to look after, although there are some techniques for planting and management that needs to be observed to ensure a satisfactory yield."The demand for the cili padi Semerah is very encouraging and is an excellent opportunity for the farmers of Tawau," she told Bernama after visiting a number of chili padi Semerah farms at Kampung Sungai Tongkang, Pulau Sebatik Thursday.
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On Wednesday, about 100 farmers from throughout Tawau attended a course on technology transfer in the farming of the cili padi Semerah, organised by the Tawau Agricultural Department and the Tawau Youth and Sports Department and coordinated by Melor.A farmer, Ismail Majid, 29, said he began the cili padi Semerah farm two years ago by planting 400 plants with the help of his brother.His first attempt failed but it motivated him to contact the Area Agricultural Department and Farmers Organisation for advise and assistance.Last December, he tried once again to plant 400 cili padi Semerah plants in the conventional way and finally succeeded in harvesting between 40kg-50kg at each harvest of thrice a week.
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Ismail said that he has now planted 1,200 cili padi Semerah plants using the Fertiliser Irrigation method and 200 more through the conventional way and they were now beginning to provide a yield.He said at present, 15 youths including women, were involved in the planting of the cili padi Semerah on Pulau Sebatik on an area of about 63.13 hectares (156 acres).
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