Basic Knowledge in Agriculture #40

Stages of Agriculture in Indonesia Since its inception, agriculture in Indonesia has faced a long history that has progressed from traditional to more modern system of growing crops. Formerly the farmers of that place with here and there an exception used the hakwe and the wooden plough and planted in the ancient manner handed down to them. Cropping systems such as interplanting and rudimentary irrigation techniques (as in the subak system of Bali) are as much of agrarian culture proven to be essential in Indonesian paddy cultivation psychology.

Into the wired and increasingly domestically-oriented economy of modern times, Indonesian agriculture has been changing. The government introduced a series of programmes – including the Green Revolution in the Seventies – which advocated the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, and the depletion of local seed breeds in favour of high-yielding varieties. There are some areas where precision agriculture based on digital technology has begun to be practiced using drones, soil sensors and weather information to improve efficiency and productivity.

Nonetheless, the agricultural sector in Indonesia has a number of important challenges ahead. First is the fact that the agricultural land area is declining (because the land is used to build houses, industries, etc). Second, the shortage of rejuvenation of young farmer, because a lot of young people are averse to the work in this industry. Third, excessive reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides could adversely affect soil fertility and the environment in the long run. And then, agriculture, is also by climate change, with extreme weather and possible crop failure.

Addressing these challenges needs a whole strategy. The government should consider making land protection for agriculture use permanent to help eliminate easy conversion. In addition, agriculture modernization along ecologically sound technologies must be further promoted, including training farmers to use modern machines. Another key thing is to attract youth into agriculture by developing a profitable, modernised, entrepreneurial agricultural system. Lastly, more emphasis should be put on moving towards climate change adaptation (sustainable agriculture, agroforestry and irrigation water efficiency).

With that sort of cooperative effort between farmers, government and the private sector, the way Indonesia produces its food might still be in for an upgrade in efficiency, sustainability and sex-appeal to a new generation of farmers.

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