SUSTAINABILITY INDEX OF RED CHILI AS LEADING COMMODITY IN NORTH SUMATRA PROVINCE, INDONESIA

The objectives of this study are to analyze the sustainability index and the attributes having the most dominant influence on the sustainability of red chili as the leading commodity in North Sumatra province, which becomes the third highest red chili production in Indonesia. Respondents involve experts from various institutions/agencies in this province. Data analysis is carried out by multi-dimensional scaling approach. The results show that the value of the sustainability index of the multidimensional red chili superior commodity is 52.87 with the status of the category as quite sustainable. Meanwhile, the value of the sustainability index of red chili as the leading commodity in each dimension varies greatly referring to 53.03, 61.41 and 49.49 for the economic, social and environmental dimensions, respectively. The three most influential attributes to the sustainability of the red chili availability system comprise the economic dimension relating to the size of the market and financial feasibility, the social dimension pertaining to the population development and growth of red chili consumption per capita, and the environmental dimensions treating to the utilization of red chili plant waste and productivity.