Feasibility study of red chili farming with zeolite soil improvement technology in sub-optimal land of Kulon Progo coastal sand area

Coastal sand area is a sub-optimal land for cultivation. It needs efforts to increase soil fertility. This study aims to analyze the feasibility of coastal chilies farming in Kulon Progo by zeolite soil repairer treatment. The research was conducted from March to October 2020, located in Bugel, Panjatan, Kulon Progo where zeolite dose treatment experimental plot was carried out. Data used in this study are primary data from cultivation in the assessment using single factor with completely randomized design, with 5 treatments zeolite dose and 1 control (without zeolite). The experimental plot area is 500m2. Data were analyzed using farm analysis: farm income, R/C ratio and B/C ratio. The results revealed the highest farming income is obtained in the treatment without Zeolite. Based on farm analyzed, it’s known that chili farming on coastal area is not feasible yet. This is due at the time of study conducted. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, chili selling price at farmer level was very low, from IDR 5,000/kg-IDR 6,000/kg while in same months when Covid-19 did not occur was IDR 10,000/kg-IDR 20,000/kg. Pandemic Covid-19 caused all horticultural commodity prices simultaneous to decline in a relatively long period of time.