24 Mac 2023 (FAMA) – In Malaysia, chili is a significant crop that is cultivated both in open fields and in enclosed areas. Red, green, and bird's eye chili (Cili Padi) are the most popular types of chili in Malaysia.
According to the Department of Agriculture (DOA), Malaysia, there was a growth of 2% in 2021, due to an incline in production to 28,740 mt from 28,264 mt in the previous year. Kelantan, Johor, Perak, and Pahang are among the states that produce the most chili.
Chili usually grown by farmers who sell their produce at local markets or to a wholesaler. In recent years, the Malaysian government has actively encouraged the production of chillis as a strategy to increase the country's food security through initiatives like the National Food Security Policy.
Report of Statistics in Malaysia (DOSM) shows Malaysia's Per Capita Consumption (PCC) of chillis was 2.2 kilograms in 2021. Moreover, DOSM stated that Malaysia's Self-Sufficient Ratio (SSR) for chillis is 29.3% in 2021. This indicates that just 29.3% of the chillis consumed by Malaysian in 2021 are produced locally. With an Import Dependence Ratio (IDR) of 75.1%, Malaysia is also reliant on imported chillis to meet domestic demand. With 95.7% of the Malaysia market share, Thailand is the main importer of chillis, along with China, India, and Australia.
The Malaysian government has adopted a number of measures to solve the issue as to enhance domestic production of chili and reduce Malaysia's dependency on imports to meet the nation's growing demand. Here are a few potential actions that could be taken:
1. Raising the production of chili by utilizing contemporary farming techniques, superior fertilizers, and upgraded irrigation systems. Education and training can be used to accomplish this. It is crucial to offer training on cutting-edge technologies like integrated pest management and drip irrigation. This may boost crop yields and enhance the output of chili.
2. Making research and development investments to create new chili variety that are more tolerant to pests and illnesses as well as more suited to regional growing conditions. Better fertilizer and other agricultural inputs can result from investing in research and development.
3. Promoting urban farming. Supports the growing of chili in urban locations, such as community gardens, office and rooftop farms, which can enhance the amount of local chili available in the market and it act as a supplement to the chili supply.
4. Develop a supply chain infrastructure. Farmers can market their chili more effectively and squander less by building a strong supply chain infrastructure, which includes transportation. Moreover, FAMA is available to assist in form of marketing.
5. Promoting the export of chili. Exporting more can open up new markets for Malaysian chili, which will drive up demand for domestic chili output. With time, production may rise as a result, stimulating industry expansion.
Malaysia may increase its chili production and subsequently decrease its reliance on imports by executing these measures into place. This may make it possible for Malaysia to meet the local demand.
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