PAPRIKA PRODUCTION PROTOCOL

A. LAND PREPARATION
1. Clear land area. Plow and harrow field and apply organic fertilizer (manure) at 50 sacks per hectare.
2. Construct one-meter wide plots/beds at any convenient length. The spaces plots/beds should be 0.5 meters
and proper irrigation must be observed.
3. Sterilize the soil by applying heat. Lay down a layer of dry trash on the surface of the plots/beds and burn.
4. Make holes a day before transplanting. There should be two holes 50 cm apart in each plot/bed and 40 cm
between hills.
B. SEEDLING ESTABLISHMENT
1. Use organic materials as soil medium for seedlings.
2. Sterilize the seed bed using the same procedure above. Lay down a layer of dry trash on the surface of the
seed bed and burn.
3. Broadcast 1 kilogram of complete fertilizer on the seed bed.
4. Fill seedling trays with sowing medium and moisten the medium using water.
5. Sow one seed per hole of seedling tray and cover again with mixed sowing medium
6. Water seedlings once in the morning (around 8am) and one in the afternoon (around 3pm).
7. Foliar spray or drench seedlings with liquid fertilizer (vegetative stage) once two true leaves have emerged
8. Spray insecticide as needed and fungicide 14 days after sowing
9. Harden seedlings 4-5 days before transplanting by exposing seedlings to direct sunlight and gradually
withdrawing amount of water
10. Transplant seedlings after 4 weeks old
C. TRANSPLANTING
1. Transplant seedlings after 4-5 true leaves have emerged or when seedlings are 4 weeks old
2. Transplant late in the afternoon and water/irrigate immediately after transplanting
D. CARE and MAINTENANCE
1. Water plants 2 times a week during summer season and when crop is in vegetative stage. On flower
initiation or fruit setting, water plants as frequent 3-4 times a week or as needed
2. Foliar spray crops with hi-nitro during vegetative stage every 7-10 days interval at a rate of 5-6 tbsp per 16
liters water
3. On the onset of flowering, spray yield booster every 7-10 days at a rate of 6 tbsp per 16 liters water
4. Monitor field/crop with presence of pest and diseases and spray recommended insecticide following the
recommended rate specially for fruit flies.
5. Apply fungicide 2 weeks after transplanting to prevent damping off disease
6. Drenched plants with liquid fertilizers as support to basal fertilization
7. Apply basal fertilizer
a. 30 days after planting. Use urea at a rate 0f 10 grams per plant
b. 45 days after planting. Use 1 part urea and 1 part complete at a rate of 10 grams per plant
c. 60 days after planting. Use 1 part urea, 1 part complete and 1 part potash at a rate of 20 garms per
plant
d. In between vegetative to fruiting. Additional basal fertilizer maybe applied as indicated by plant
appearance

E. WEEDING and TRELLISING

1. Weed the plant base as often as there is weeds and cultivate the base part of plants
2. While cultivation is done, soil hilling-up or off-barring may be implemented as support to plants root system
 3. Provide stakes as soon as plants reach a height of 10 inches and tying the plants to the stakes. Or a series of
bamboo poles may constructed along the bed/plot at 2.5 meters apart on both sides of the bed. Attach
nylon wire in the bamboo poles and tie sagging stems and branches on the nylon wire using plastic
straws/twine.
F. HARVESTING
1. Harvesting may be done 14-16 weeks after flowering.
a. Harvest mature green fruits or with orange or red colors and allow the fruit to turn fully red in color
b. Harvest early in the morning or late in the afternoon
c. If fruits are to be processed, wash the fruits after harvest
d. Air dry or wipe fruit to remove excess water
e. Slice the fruits and remove peduncle and seeds
f. Dry the sliced fruits using solar dryers