DISRUPTION TO SUPPLY CHAIN OF RED CHILI: Case Study in Cirebon District+ Harniati*, Thomas Widodo*, Arifin Tasrif*, Chifayah Astuti**
*Bogor Agricultural Development Polytechnic
** Borobudur University
Abstract
Business of red chili was fragile resulting in uncertain and vulnerable supply chain. Once price fluctuation or crop failure, farmers could not buy production^s input, the next production of chili declined. Then, disrupted in chili supply chain occurred. The purpose of this study was to figure out the cause of disruption to supply chain of red chili. Research was limited into flows of product. The research used purposive and snowball methods with a qualitative approach by applying an in-depth interview. The results presented condition contributed to disruption of supply chain namely the characteristics of farmers and their fragile business, the pattern of relation and network among farmers and middlemen. Generally, farmers could not fully take the decisions- they were deeply depending on middlemen to run their business. The middlemen determined marketing, pricing for both input factors and product, as well as land leasing. The study affirmed that chili supply chain disruption represented the ineffective institutions linked to chili business. Farmers had difficulties to overcome their complicated conditions, while they were still facing the Covid-19 pandemic situation that could be having more significant impact on their business. The strength of this research was using approaches in economic, institution, and socio-culture.
