Empowering Local Farmers in Humbahas

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Empowering Local Farmers in Humbahas, Techbros Introduces Innovative Smart Agriculture Solutions

Here at Techbros, we always put our utmost effort into empowering the people around us, in hopes that our support can contribute actively and sustainably towards their journey in unlocking their full potential. The agricultural sector is one of the most pertinent sectors here in Indonesia, and we are always looking for ways to propel it forward through digital transformation and IT integration. Thus, we partnered up with the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime and Investment Affairs (Kemenko Marves) to hold the Smart Agriculture Solutions Showcase Exhibition at the Public Works and Public House (Pekerjaan Umum dan Perumahan Rakyat/PUPR) Building located in the Pollung District in Humbang Hasundutan (Humbahas) Regency, North Sumatera, on the 26th of October 2022.

Apart from the exhibition, a discussion forum was held between Techbros and Kemenko Marves with local farmers in the Humbahas Food Estate area. The discussion aims to find solutions for harvest-related issues that are faced daily by farmers. Through the acknowledgment of these issues, Techbros can further develop the appropriate smart agriculture solutions suitable to help farmers solve their problems.

“We want to actively support the Humbahas Food Estate program initiated by the government through the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime and Investment Affairs,” Techbros Project Manager Yosua Hutapea stated. “Techbros will provide smart agriculture-based solutions through technological innovations that can easily be accessed using the internet. We want to carry out direct trials in the field.”

Techbros has developed two main tools to help local farmers, namely Elang AI Aitelmoo and Plant Disease Classifier. Elang AI Aitelmoo is a tool equipped with computer vision that serves the purpose of detecting cows’ body weight growth and health levels, as well as their food consumption.
Meanwhile, Plant Disease Classifier is a tool used to detect the types of crops and their diseases. This tool allows its users to read the conditions of a specific crop by placing its leaf on the machine, before it gives the farmers recommendations on how to treat the crop properly. Following the trial runs for these tools, Yosua hopes that smart agriculture concepts can ease harvest activities in the future, which will hopefully boost local farmers’ productivity and increase the quality of their crops.

Other than Techbros, two technologies developed by Advanced Creative Networks Research Center (AdCNet) and Telkom University’s Faculty of Applied Sciences were introduced at the Smart Agriculture Solutions Showcase Exhibition.

Telkom University Staff Galih Prihartanto revealed that one of the technologies is an Internet of Things (IoT)-based nutrient detector. The tool can detect and retrieve data on plants’ nutrients in the soil via nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) sensors, as well as humidity sensors. Retrieved data will then be processed by a microcontroller, before users can see the data on the screen and receive a copy of it with the help of IoT. Using this tool, farmers can choose the best treatment for their crops.

“Another tool that we developed is the Auto Switching of hybrid power plants, which sources energy from sunlight and wind,” Galih Prihartanto continued. “This tool is equipped with sensors and switches that can regulate the battery charging input based on the largest value of electrical energy produced by solar or wind turbine.”

Fortuna Argatech was also among the participants. They introduced two innovations: Landslide Monitoring System and Weather Station. Fortune Agratech representative Arifin Ardi revealed that Landslide Monitoring System can monitor real-time soil conditions, as well as record and provide notifications for early warning signs of potential landslides, while Weather Station serves to collect actual weather-related data at the designated locations.

In order for the farmers to utilize the technologies provided by Techbros, Telkom University, and Fortuna Agratech, the TIP Community Lab of Telkom University will install three free Wi-Fi spots at the PUPR Building to further assist the farmers in accessing the smart agriculture solutions.
Field Manager Food Estate and Kemenko Marves Staff Dr Van Basten Panjaitan expressed his support for smart agriculture solutions that have a direct impact on the nation’s sustainable development. He also sees these solutions as a way to facilitate farming activities and streamline agricultural costs.

“This collaboration is the government’s effort to continue increasing food yields from all sides, including technology. Technology cannot move without human knowledge. Therefore, it is hoped that this knowledge transfer will be sustainable so that the benefits can be felt directly by farmers,” said Van Basten.