Digitization of agriculture can enhance and optimize the function of agricultural equipment, such as smart tractors. Thus, decisions made in the agricultural sector are accurate and useful.

It was said by a lecturer at SBM ITB Prof. Togar M. Simatupang at the Digitalization of the Agriculture Supply Chain Workshop in Sere Nauli Hotel, Sumatera Utara, which was also presented digitally through Zoom, on Tuesday (28/12/2021). This workshop was hosted by Dr. Eng. Nur Budi Mulyono, a lecturer and assistant professor at SBM ITB.

Togar mentioned various forms of digitalization in agriculture, such as big data, the internet of things, augmented reality, robotics, sensors, 3D printing, and many more. These concepts are applied to agriculture, like precision farming, decision farming, digital farming, and smart farming.

“With digital technology, agricultural products can also be upgraded into smart products that can mutually interact, share data, and project future condition in a connected system,” said Togar.

For example, a farming product, such as a tractor, can be improved by implementing technology to create a smart tractor. Other tractors can receive feedback and data to create smart connected products. These tractors work in a system with other products, such as harvesters and planters.

Togar also examined digitalized agriculture in Japan and China. Digital technology has improved the state of agriculture by automating the operation using smartphones, enabling the success of agricultural skills to a younger generation, and managing farms with an accurate prediction of growth and diseases.

Written by Student Reporter (Affan Agil, IB 2023)