By DayakDaily Team
BARIO, Aug 7: From a small 100-polybag pilot project to a commercial farm producing up to 500 kilogrammes of chillies weekly, Bario’s fertigated chilli industry is gaining momentum and reaching wider markets beyond the highlands.
SSS Farm operator Solomon Maran said improved rural connectivity, including better roads linking Kampung Pa Derung and the Bario-Miri route, has helped local farmers expand their market reach to Miri and Bintulu.
According to Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas), he said agricultural produce can now be transported by road, reducing reliance on air cargo services.
“Previously, it was quite difficult due to poor road conditions. Now, we can send our produce directly to Miri by road,” he said when met by Ukas recently.
Solomon said the chilli venture began through a small-scale fertigation project introduced by the Sarawak Agriculture Department, which involved 100 polybags and training for residents.
The initiative has since grown into a commercial operation, with SSS Farm now cultivating between 2,000 and 3,000 chilli plants using a fertigation system on about half an acre of land.
He said the Sarawak Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) also supported the venture by helping market the produce and connecting farmers to markets outside Bario.
According to Solomon, Bario’s cooler highland climate provides suitable conditions for chilli cultivation, allowing the plants to grow well while producing quality crops sought after by wholesalers.
He added that community participation has also increased following the MADANI Project received last year, with six families now involved in group chilli farming involving about 7,000 plants.
“The current production can reach around 500 kilogrammes per week, while farmers with about 2,000 plants can potentially earn around RM4,000 monthly from chilli sales,” he said.
However, Solomon said as demand continues to exceed current production capacity, with some orders reaching up to one tonne per order, he hoped that more planting areas could be developed to increase production and meet growing market demand. — DayakDaily
