JAYAPURA - The Papua Provincial Government is encouraging the movement to plant chili peppers in Supiori and Waropen, which is experiencing a significant inflation increase.

In recent weeks the price of chili has reached IDR150 thousand per kilogram. The high cost of chili peppers is due to the farmers' crops being attacked by snail pests.

"Besides eradicating conch pests, we encourage these two districts to plant chili."

"We started doing two activities three weeks ago. Waropen had a surplus of chili, but it was damaged because of snail pests," explained the Head of the Papua Food Crops, Horticulture and Food Service, Samuel Siriwa, in Jayapura City, Saturday (29/6/2024).

Siriwa also ensured that it had distributed various assistance to Waropen and Supiori. The distribution of aid coincides with the working visit of the Acting Governor of Papua and his staff on June 27 and 28, 2024.

"The assistance includes rice reserve assistance, and assistance for rice development starting from seeds, fertilizers, tractors and power threshers. Then, assistance for the development of yams and corn and small agricultural equipment," explained Siriwa.

He hopes that the assistance distributed can increase the production of superior commodities in their respective regions. ***