Indonesian Agriculture Transformation in The Era of Digitalization
Recently in an interview in Final Notes on CNN Indonesia YouTube, the Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo mentioned that there are indications of a fairly positive trend, a new trend where Indonesia's agricultural exports grew during Covid-19 pandemic. Export growth in 2020, 15.74% and in 2021, up by 49.7%. This means that closing 2021, Indonesia's export capabilities are very strong. The increase in our export power occurred precisely during the 2-year pandemic. Agriculture of food crops/horticulture, plantations and animal husbandry has increased very well. This is due to the increasing role of digital in the agricultural sector.
The Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia targets to increase the welfare of farmers through 3 strategic programs; provision of People's Business credit services (KUR), 3 times export movement program (Gratieks) and the establishment of an agricultural development strategy command (Kostra Tani). Indonesian Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Syahrul Yasin Limpo stated that the KUR program is a strategic program to improve the agricultural sector from upstream to downstream with easy access and low interest rates. This program is expected to support and strengthen agricultural potential in various regions. In addition, Minister Syahrul explained that the Ministry of Agriculture also has a strengthening program through 3 times exports (Gratieks), through this movement made as an invitation to all stakeholders in agricultural development to work in an unusual way. And the Ministry of Agriculture has formed a strategic command for agricultural development (Kostra Tani), which will strengthen the function of extension workers, as the spearhead of monitoring conditions on the ground in each region.
Further reading about 3 strategic programs in Bahasa : Kementerian Pertanian - Tiga Program Kementan Untuk Meningkatkan Produksi dan Kesejahteraan Petani
The current focus of the Ministry of Agriculture is on digital transformation from upstream to downstream. Indonesian Agriculture has 3 big agendas, the 1st agenda is in cultivation, related to existing land and new land, training farmers how to plant properly and the 2nd agenda is how to harvest and not damage the environment, the 3rd agenda is marketing on agricultural products to increase exports.
With this agenda, the Indonesian government encourages Indonesian farmers in terms of capital knowledge, knowledge to increase production (with good varieties of seeds and fertilizers). Technology plays an important role, such as sophisticated agricultural machine tools and most importantly artificial intelligence plays an important role in agriculture in Indonesia today.
What does the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture need?
Technology, Research and Science.
In this case the function of the Research and Development Center is very important. All regions in Indonesia require artificial technology and the use of satellites to help the agricultural sector. Therefore, answering all challenges in agriculture is mechanization and technological transformation. Modern farming is something that millennials are currently doing, such as vertical farming and green-house.
To tackle climate change, Minister Syahrul also stated that the solution is only with technology, research and science. Currently, the Ministry of Agriculture has a facility called the Agriculture War Room in collaboration with LAPAN (National Institute of Aeronautics and Space). Where important things can be known such as water conditions, calculating PH soil and agricultural mapping. We need to know which areas are dry, which often rain, the condition of the soil in an area; what is planted in that area matches the soil conditions so that production increases. Then in post-harvest, we need post-harvest technology so that the harvest does not rot quickly. Then the processing system of a commodity, for example how it is derived from corn, and others.
The priority commodities for the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture are wallet bird nests, porang (Porang is a tuber plant of the species Amorphophallus muelleri) and ornamental plants. Palm oil is no longer a priority, because many other commodities such as areca nut, spices and coconut have very promising markets.
From 38 provinces in Indonesia that are currently mainstay for intervention and driven by the government, especially the Ministry of Agriculture, one of them is South Sumatra and South Sulawesi. But that does not mean other provinces are left behind. Provincial regulars will still be considered according to their needs.
Indonesia's Agricultural Target for 2022
Food security and food self-sufficiency are the targets of the Ministry of Agriculture. By collaborating with all levels in the central and local government. In 2022, there will be no more agricultural exhibitions, the main thing to do right now is business matching and negotiation.
Source
This interview is in Bahasa and available in CNN Indonesia YouTube channel with this link : Final Notes
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