The weather forecast for Indonesia shows extreme weather conditions are expected in the early 2021 and the Indonesian Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) have indicated that heavy winds, rain, and thunderstorms should be anticipated. Areas that are expected to be affected include Bangka Belitung, Lampung, and Kalimantan, all of which are major pepper producing areas. Extreme weather conditions due to climate change have become an increasingly common occurrence in recent years. For countries with tropical climes, variations in maximum and minimum temperature range, rainfall, dryness and heat have resulted in increased susceptibility towards disasters, such as extreme droughts and floods.
What does this mean for pepper yields?
The pepper plant thrives in the tropics as the humid climate provides the plant with the perfect condition for growth. Aside from a warm climate and sufficient light, rainfall is one of the most prominent environmental factors that affects pepper yields. According to researchers from various universities in Indonesia (Yudiyanto et al), the optimum amount of rainfall for blaick pepper ranges from 2,000 to 3,000 mm per year. Black pepper growth begins to hamper when monthly rainfall is less than 90 mm, and while it may be noted that the current rainy season can result in positive outcomes for pepper yields, farmers will still need to properly mitigate the more extreme conditions.
What Should Pepper Farmers Do?
Extreme rainfall can be damaging to pepper plants. In addition to diseases, the berries could also fall off the trees. Thus, farmers should anticipate by installing proper water drainage management in their farms. Plasticulture bed systems, where water is shed through plastic beds toward row middles, can be one of the ways to help protect pepper crops from waterlogging. Through the SpiceUp App, farmers can track daily weather conditions, including humidity, rainfall, sunlight index, and soil temperature tailored to their specific farm locations. Within the App, farmers can also find e-learning materials on how to manage water with flood irrigation systems such as drainage and canals, which is particularly important during the rainy season as pools of water are the perfect breeding grounds for root rotting pepper pathogens.