Indonesia pushes sustainable farming for global pepper competitiveness

Indonesia's pepper industry is focusing on sustainable cultivation as a key strategy to enhance its global competitiveness. As international markets increasingly demand environmentally friendly and traceable products, adopting these practices is crucial for Indonesian pepper to thrive.

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Sustainability must grow from the community at the ground level through local solutions that protect biodiversity.

To support this shift, the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) Indonesia has partnered with the International Pepper Community (IPC). This collaboration aims to bolster farmers' capabilities, promote environmental conservation, and foster the development of higher-value pepper products. National Coordinator for GEF SGP Indonesia, Sidi Rana Menggala, emphasized that increasing production alone is insufficient; practices must also safeguard biodiversity and environmental sustainability.

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Local farmers not only need financial assistance but also life skills to compete at the international level.

"Sustainability must grow from the community at the ground level through local solutions that protect biodiversity," Sidi stated. The program will encourage local innovation to prevent land degradation while improving farmers' livelihoods. Beyond financial aid, it will equip farmers with essential business management skills to compete internationally. Marina Novira Anggraini, Executive Director of IPC, echoed this sentiment, calling sustainability the "main foundation of competitiveness" for the global pepper sector. IPC plans to support this through market information, research, technical assistance, and knowledge exchange.

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IPC views sustainability as the main foundation of competitiveness in strengthening the future of the global pepper sector.

The initiative also targets increasing the value of pepper commodities by developing derivative products such as perfumes, pepper coffee, and aromatherapy. "We have a main target of connecting farmers with access to information so they can process raw materials into value-added products," Marina explained. The private sector, represented by S. Kris of PT Supa Surya Niaga, has pledged to strengthen the supply chain by connecting farmers' harvests to markets that adhere to food safety and sustainability standards. This collaboration is expected to bolster the national pepper sector's competitiveness and help farmers navigate challenges like climate change and market demands.

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We have a main target of connecting farmers with access to information so they can process raw materials into value-added products.