TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Agriculture in Indonesia is experiencing an acceleration of digitalization, as seen especially during the pandemic. This digitization can be used for marketing, learning about the latest technologies to boost production, or sharing success stories. In a spirit of solidarity, IT companies have reached out to farmers to support their sales, especially during mobilization restrictions and vice versa. Digitization thus becomes more vital for farmers as well as for the development of agriculture in Indonesia.
In this context, FAO is embracing digitization to share agricultural best practices with the latest 3D technologies through a virtual exhibition. Converting an offline exhibition into digital mode brings a new experience for visitors, especially young people.
The virtual exhibit which can be visited at www.pahlawanpangan.com showcases the stories of farmers, fishermen, cattle herders and forest community members who have survived during the pandemic. Four sectors are presented in the exhibition, namely animal health, agriculture, marine and fisheries and forestry.
FAO Virtual Exhibition
“During the difficult times of the pandemic, we had no choice but to modernize our system, especially in the food value chain. If you see the statistics, there is also a growth in communication services during the pandemic. Mobile services, online marketing, e-commerce, big data, blockchain, GIS and geospatial platform and knowledge management system are part of modern society, and now farmers are using it for their everyday life,” said Rajendra Aryal. FAO Representative in Indonesia.
In the virtual exhibition, in addition to the virtual booths and cinema, visitors can see model poultry farms that have applied a 3Zones biosecurity program to prevent germs from contaminating farms and food products.
The exhibition also shows the miniature of the implementation of Beje pond fishing, a traditional method of fishing in Central Kalimantan where the Dayak people dig small ponds in swampy and boggy areas near a large river. During the rainy season, the river overflows, bringing the fish to the ponds of Beje. When the water recedes, most fish are trapped in the Beje and harvested by the community during the dry season. Sustainable fishing practices like Beje play a major role in the food system and ecosystem conservation.
“With more and more people having access to faster internet in the country, digital agriculture is one of the main vectors for transforming the Indonesian food system. Let us also remember the fact that Indonesia being a huge archipelago, has problems of geographical access to many places. Digitization therefore remains the key to agribusiness transformation in Indonesia,” added Rajendra.
The virtual exhibition will run on the website until the end of December 2022.
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