Farming Efficiency Analysis and Farmers' Perceptions of Red Chilli Proliga Innovation in South Sumatra

The main component of the Proliga technology, compared to other red chilli cultivation technologies, to increase red chilli productivity is the application of a 2:1 zigzag planting system. This planting system can increase the density of plants per hectare from 20,000 to 29,000-30,000, so it is hoped that productivity can be increased to 20 t/ha. This research aims to analyze the efficiency of Proliga red chilli technology farming and farmers’ perceptions in Tanjung Pering village, Indralaya district, Ogan Ilir Regency, South Sumatra. The planting was conducted in April 2020. The research showed that red chilli production reached 17.1 t/ha with a total production cost of IDR 94,330,000/planting season and income of IDR 179,270,000/planting season, with an R/C ratio of 2.9. This shows that South Sumatra’s Proliga red chilli farming business is very profitable and worthy of development. Most farmers surveyed had a positive perception of the Proliga technology components introduced, based on four dimensions of innovation characteristics. Farmers’ perceptions of the Proliga red chilli technology give high scores (3.86 - 4.00) to the dimensions of relative advantage, ease of trying, and easy-to-observe results, but have moderate dimensions of suitability.